106 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



the rachilla, the third and fourth above the articulation, usually empty, 



itift 



Fig. ?5. Spikelet of Phalaris 



A rumliitacca— empty glumes, flow- 

 ering glumesand perfect flower with 

 hairy rudiments. 



very unlike the outer ones, rarely sub- 

 tending staminate flowers, sometimes re- 

 duced to mere bristles, the fifth glume 

 with a one-nerved or nerveless palea and 

 hermaphrodite flower. 



A small tribe, comprising six genera 

 and sixty species, of little importance. A 

 few are cultivated for forage, like the 

 sweet vernal grass. Phalaris, com- 

 mon canary grass, is :ultivated chiefly as 

 food for birds. The largest genus, 

 (Khrhartia), has 24 species, 20 of which 

 are found in South Africa, the remainder in New Zealand and New 

 Holland. Phalaris, with ten species, is found chiefly in southern Europe; 

 one species is widely distributed in Asia and America. Hierochloe 

 is found in northern temperate Europe and North America. 



KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE PHA.LARIDEAE. 



Third and fourth glumes empty, rudimentary, awnless Phalaris , l 



Third and fourth glumes empty, small, awned on the back 



— Anthoxanthum . 2 

 Third and fourth glumes enclosing a staminate flower, almost equalling 



the first and second Hierochloe . 3 



I. PHALARIS. 



Phalaris L. Sp. PI. 54. 1753. Endlicher. Gen. PI. 81. Bentham and 

 Hooker. Gen. PI. 3: 1138. Hackel in Engler and Prantl. Nat. Pflanz. 

 Fam. II. 2: 43. /. 40. 



Digraphis. Trin. Fund. Agros. 127. 1820. 



Baldinget a Gaertn. Mey. and Schreb. Fl. Wetter. 1: 43. 1799. 



lyphodes. Moench. Meth. 201. 1799. 



Spikelets crowded in a clustered or spiked panicle, 1 -flowered. 

 Glumes 5, the third and fourth reduced to mere rudiments (a scale or 

 a pedicel), one on each side, at the base of the dowering glume and palet 

 which are flattish, awnless and shining, shorter than the equal, boat- 

 sh.aped and keeled, persistent, empty glumes, finally coriaceous or carti- 

 laginous, and closely enclosing the flattened, free and smooth grain. 

 Stamens 3. Leaves broad, mostly Hat. (The ancient name, from the 

 Greek word for shining, alluding to the shining seed.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PHALARIS. 

 Empty glumes not winged, spike short and broad, subcapitate. ■ ... ; 



— P. Canariensis. x 

 Empty glumes broadly winged, spike narrow, long P. arundinacea." 



