GEASSY NOOKS. 151 



terrestrial namesakes. There are two other Foxtails, 

 the Alpine and the Bulbous ; the latter frequents salt 

 marshes. 



Similar in appearance, but lower in growth, are the 

 purple anthered Cat's-tails (Phleum), tenants alike of 

 the meadow, the pasture, and the sea-shore. They 

 have two pointed glumes, concealing the blunt and in- 

 significant palese. On permanent pastures the common 

 Cat's-tail (P. pratense), with its thin and wiry stem 

 and its close cylindrical spike, may be found growing 

 to the height of twelve or eighteen inches. The Sea 

 Cat's-tail (P. arenariim) is a minute grass with a 

 tapering spike and hairy foliage. There are three 

 other Cat's-tail grasses, known as the Bough, the Al- 

 pine, and the Purple-stalked. They are, however, rare. 



The Canary Grasses (Phalaris) next claim our at- 

 tention the tall canary-grass, with its rounded head, 

 and broad, overlapping, and beautifully shaped glumes, 

 of which there are two, with three or four paleae. The 

 Reed Canary Grass (P. arundinacea) waves its panicles 

 of soft florets by the river-side, amongst its relatives, 

 the sedges. It binds the loose earth of the river-bank 

 together, and is otherwise a useful grass. The Rib- 

 bon Grass of our gardens belongs to the same tribe. 



