26 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



Cheshire, Denbigh, Anglesea, Merioneth, Worcester, Norfolk, Es- 

 sex, Kent, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. It is also found in Lap- 

 land, Norway, and Sweden, and as far south as the Mediterranean. 

 It occurs in the most northern parts of America as well as in the 

 United States. 



Flowers early in July. 



14. Phalaris canariensis.* 

 Manured Canary Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Panicle globular. Base of floret with two 

 acute lanceolate scales. (Plate IX.) 



Description. — It grows from one to two feet. The root is annual, 

 composed of a number of white fibres. Stem erect, smooth, slender ;, 

 bearing five or six leaves, with somewhat roughish inflated sheaths ; 

 upper sheath longer than its leaf, crowned with a white membranous 

 rounded ligule. Joints naked, frequently of a yellowish tinge. 

 Leaves rather broad, lanceolate, acute, occasionally roughish to the 

 touch. Inflorescence panicled. Panicle dense, globular, erect, its 

 branches very short, about one-seventh part the length of the spike- 

 lets. Spikelets oval, flat, imbricated, rather large, elegantly varie- 

 gated with green and white ; of one awnless floret. Calyx of two 

 equal compressed glumes, (Fig 1); inner margins nearly straight; 

 outer margin convex, furnished on each side with a broad green 

 crescent-shaped line or rib, broadest towards the upper part. Floret 

 of two palese, (Fig. 2), the outer palea ovate, acute, hairy, with two 

 membranous lanceolate scales at the base, about half the length of 

 the palea. Inner palea hairy, rather shorter than the outer palea. 

 Seeds polished. 



Obs. — Although this grass, in its general appearance, is very un- 

 like the following species, yet in the structure of their florets they are 

 very similar. It is a native of the Canary Isles and southern parts 

 of Europe, and is now become naturalized in Britain as well as in 

 America. It is cultivated principally for its seed, which is considered 

 superior to any other kind of food for canaries and other small birds. 

 The herbage is of little value. 



* Phalaris canariensis, Linn, Smith, Hooker, Lindlcy, Kocli, Grevirie. 



