THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



197 



(where glumes are present) has two, are usually dissimilar, and are 

 called glumellas ; on the outer one is produced the awn or bristle 

 which characterizes the flowers of some of the grasses. Every sepa- 

 rate group of flowers forms what is called a spikelet, and every 

 aggregate of spikelets constitutes the spike or panicle. 



There are forty-four genera of British grasses and about one 

 hundred and twenty species. Very many are so nearly alike that 

 no beginner could hope to distinguish them even were they to be 

 met with in his earliest rambles, but the beginner may, nevertheless, 

 find a great many and very quickly understand them sufficiently to 

 hunger for knowledge of more. 



The sweet-scented Vernal-grass, Antho.canthum odoratum, is one 

 of the most abuudant and useful of the family, contributing largely 

 both to the fragrance and nourishing properties of good hay.° It 

 flowers as early as April, and produces ripe seeds in June. It forms 

 what may be called a quite common-looking panicle of a pale dingy- 



PINE BENT GEASS. 



SPREADING SILKY BENT GEASS, 



green colour, from every flower of which two stamens protrude in a 

 very characteristic manner. The Fox-tail grasses have close dense 

 spikes, which may be likened to tails, though not of foxes. The 

 commonest of them is the Meadow Fox-tail, Alopecurus pratensis, 

 which may be found in almost every good pasture. The Canary 

 grass, Phalaris canariensis, may often be found on rubbish heaps, 

 whither it has been conveyed in the emptyings of a bird-cage. The 

 panicle is large and almost globose, of a pale straw colour. The 

 Reed Canary grass, P. arundinacca, produces a loose spike, and the 

 plant is extremely robust, growing usually by the sides of rivers. The 

 common variegated grass of our gardens, the " gardener's garters " 

 or " ribbon j;rass," is a variety of this native water grass, and its 

 flowers therefore may serve to aid in the identification of the species 

 when met with. The Mat-weed or Sea Reed, Ammophila arundi- 

 nacea, may be seen on the sea coast in great masses binding drifting 

 sands, and thus preventing the dreadful injury they might inflict 



July. 



