GRASSES FOR CULTIVATION. 101 



host of seeds which adhere to their coats, or which they have 

 swallowed and drop uninjured upon the soil." (Prof. A. N. 

 Prentiss, in Prize Essay.) 



A few examples may be given to illustrate the distribution of 

 grass seeds. The panicles of Panicum capillare, when ripe, 

 easily separate from the culm and are freely tossed about and 

 carried by the wind, scattering seeds as they go for long distances, 

 even leaping over fences and bushes. 



When snow arrives its surface becomes slightly packed, and 

 seeds, with their chaff or branches still left on the dead culms, 

 are occasionally torn away and drifted for long distances before 

 the wind. 



Small seeds in the mud adhere to the feet of many kinds of 

 animals, and are thence transported from one place to another. 



The elongating and spreading root-stalks of some grasses and 

 clovers enable them to spread and occupy different ground or 

 more ground. 



The chapter on the geographical distribution of grasses will be 

 given in the second volume. 



CHAPTER VI. 



GRASSES FOR CULTIVATION. 



PHLEUM, L. TIMOTHY. 



Spikelets in spike-like panicles, 1-flowered, rachilla very short 

 and jointed above the empty glumes, extending beyond the floret, 

 rarely bearing a rudimentary flower. Flower perfect. The 

 empty glumes persistent, nearly equal, membranous, much com- 

 pressed laterally, keeled, awned, or mucronate. Floral glume 

 much shorter, broader, hyaline, truncate or toothed, 3-5-nerved. 

 Palea narrow, hyaline. Lodicules 2, hyaline, toothed on the 

 outer margins. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, long, slender, hairy. 

 Caryopsis ovoid, enclosed in the floral glume, and palea, free. 



