HOLY GRASS. 131 



wind. It does not merit cultivation except on poor, 

 peaty lands, where better grasses will not succeed. 



Fig. 111. Fig. 112. Fig- 113. Fig. 114. 



The CREEPING SOFT GRASS (Holcus mollis], Fig. 110, 

 is of no value, and is regarded as a troublesome weed. 

 Distinguished from the preceding by its awned floret 

 and its creeping root. The flowers of this grass are 

 seen magnified in Figs. 113 and 114. 



53. HIEROCHLOA. Holy Grass. 



Panicle open,' spikelets three-flowered; the two 

 lower flowers staminate ; glumes equalling the spikelet; 

 leaves linear, flat. 



SENECA GRASS, or VANILLA GRASS (Hierockloa bore- 

 alls), has spikelets three-flowered ; flowers all with two 

 paleas ; branches of the panicle smooth ; grows from 

 twelve to eighteen inches high. Stems erect, round, 

 smooth ; panicle somewhat spreading, rather one-sided ; 

 leaves short, broad, lanceolate, rough on the inner side, 

 smooth behind ; spikelets rather large. Grows in wet 

 meadows. Flowers in May. Common and generally 

 diffused, but of no value for cultivation, on account of 

 its powerful creeping roots, and very slight spring 

 foliage. 



This grass derived its generic name, Hierochloa, holy 

 grass, from two Greek words, signifying sacred grass, 

 from the fact that it was customary to strew it before 

 the doors of the churches on festival and paint's days, 

 in the north of Europe. In Sweden it is sold to be 



