GRAMINEAE 379 



501. PHAI/ARIS, L. 



[Or. Phalos, shining; alluding to the shining florets, or paleae.] 

 Spikelets in a dense panicle (sometimes spiked), each spikelet con- 

 sidered as 3-flowered, but the two lower (or lateral) florets mere 

 neutral rudiments, at the base of the perfect one. Glumes nearly 

 equal, boatshaped, nerved. Paleae shorter than the glumes, finally 

 coriaceous, and shining, closely investing the smooth grain. 



1. P. arundin&cea, L. Panicle oblong, with the spikelets 

 clustered, and somewhat secund, on the branches ; glumes obtusely 

 keeled ; neutral rudiments hairy. 

 HEED-LIKE PHALARIS. 



Perennial. Culm 3 to 5 feet high. Leaves 3 to 12 inches long, lance-linear, 

 keeled, deep green ; sheaths smooth ; liguU ovate, obtuse. Panicle erect, finally a 

 little spreading, glaucous ; glumes acute, or acuminate, 3-nerved, whitish, with 

 green nerves ; paleae, pilose with appressed hairs ; anthers yellow ; grain, obovate, 

 dark brown. 

 Hob. Swampy rivulets, and ditches : frequent. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This is a fine-looking, deep-green grass, but is not regarded 

 as of much agricultural value. Is it really native ? The foreign 

 var. picta, with striped leaves called Ribbon-grass is often seen in 

 gardens. The P. Canariensis, L. with ovate spikes, is also some- 

 times cultivated, for the seeds, to feed birds. 



DIVISION III. PANFCEAE. 



Spikelets 2-flowered, but the lower floret always imperfect (either staminate, or 

 neutral), often reduced to a single empty palea, or glume ; grain compressed, 

 or sometimes grooved on the back, with the embryo at the bottom of the groove ; 

 flowers often polygamous, or monoicous. 



TRIBE 7. PANFCEAE PROPER. 



Paleae of the fertile florets coriaceous, or chartaceous, awnless, not keeled, em- 

 bracing the smooth grain, flattened parallel with the herbaceous glumes. 



A. Spikelets appearing simply \-flowered, from, Vie suppression of ttie lower glume 

 (an empty palea occupying its place). 



502. PAS'PAL,IJ]Tl, L. 



[Gr. Paspalos ; said to be an ancient name for Millet.] 

 Spikelets racemose-spiked, usually in 2 rows, on one side of a 

 flattened continuous rachis, jointed with their very short pedicels, 

 plano-convex, and nearly orbicular. Glume and empty palea few 

 nerved. Perennials : culm erect, smoothish ; spikes single, digitate, 

 or racemed. 



1. P. setaceimi, MX. Culm slender; leaves hairy; spike mostly 

 solitary, on a long terminal peduncle. 

 SETACEOUS PASPALUM. 



Culm 1 to 2 feet high, setaceously slender, often purplish below, and somewhat 

 hairy. Leaves 2 to 6 inches long, hairy on both sides; sheaths smooth, pilose at 

 throat. Spike 2 to 4 inches in length, very slender, often with another on a 

 short peduncle from the same sheath, sometimes others from the lower eheatha, 

 Hob. Sandy fields, and roadsides : frequent. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



