B12 THE GRASS FAMILY. (AntJtoxanthum. 



The genns consists of but few species. 



1. A. odoratum, Linn. (fig. 1167). Vernal Grass. A rather slender, 

 erect perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, and quite glabrous. Spike-like panicle 

 1J to 2 inches long. Outer glumes very pointed ; the second about 3 

 lines long, the first seldom above half that length. Intermediate and 

 upper glumes usually quite included in them, or rarely the longest awn 

 slightly protrudes. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and temperate Asia, 

 from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. Abundant in Britain, 

 imparting a sweet scent to new-made hay. Fl. spring and early summer, 

 and often again in autumn. [A. Puelii, Lecoq. and Lam., a native of 

 southern and central Europe, has of late been introduced into several 

 fields in England and Scotland, and may be recognised by its very 

 slender annual habit, and long, exserted awn.] 



VI. PHALARIS. PHALARIS. 



Spikelets 1 -flowered, broad and very flat, densely crowded into an 

 ovoid or cylindrical spike or spike-like panicle as in Phleum, but there 

 are usually 6 glumes, the 2 outer ones, below the articulation, have the 

 keel projecting into a scarious wing, the intermediate pair small and 

 empty, or one of them occasionally deficient, the upper pair, under the 

 flower, flattened and complicate like the outer ones, but smaller and 

 thinner, with the central nerve or keel short and scarcely conspicuous, 

 or wanting in the inner one, which leaves it doubtful whether it be 

 really a glume or a palea. 



A small genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean region and central 

 Asia. 



1. P. canariensis, Linn. (fig. 1168). Canary Grass. An erect, leafy 

 annual, 2 to 3 feet high, with a densely imbricated, ovoid, spike-like 

 panicle, 1 to 1$ inches long, variegated with green and white, and 

 quite glabrous. Outer glumes very fiat, 3 to 4 lines long, acute but 

 not awned, white on the edges, with a broad green line down each 

 side, the intermediate empty ones short and lanceolate. Upper glumes 

 much shorter, narrow and pointed, smooth and shining, but usually 

 villous, hardening round the seed as it ripens. 



A native of southern Europe or northern Africa, much cultivated as 

 Canary-seed in Europe, and frequently appearing as a weed of cultiva- 

 tion. In Britain, occasionally found as such. Fl. summer. [Another 

 species, P. paradoxa, Linn., is to be found entered into some British 

 floras, but it has no claim to be considered even as a weed of cultiva- 

 tion, being only a very rare and fugitive garden escape.] 



VII. DIORAPHIS. DIGRAPH IS. 



A single species, often united with Phalaris, of which it has tho 

 rudimentary glumes immediately under the flowering ones, but it is 

 very different in inflorescence, and the outer glumes are not winged on 

 the keel. 



