.] ARUNDO. 147 



from one to two feet high. Leaves short, broad, tapering at the point, 

 striated, rough, especially on the upper side. Sheaths striated, inflated 

 in the upper part, roughish. Ligula large, lanceolate. Inflorescence 

 a dense, ovate, spike-like panicle. Spikelets small, one or two-flowered, 

 the bractea larger and more elegant than the last species, each valve 

 with a long tapering point, more or less awned. Glumes equal, longer 

 than the florets, lanceolate, with a long narrow point, membranous, the 

 point roughish, as well as the keel. Glumelles equal, lanceolate : the 

 outer obscurely ribbed, roughish towards the point, and terminating in 

 a long, rough, slender awn ; the inner membranous, bifid at the apex, 

 with two lateral roughish ribs, terminating in a short point. Stigmas 

 feathery. Anther rather large and pendulous. 



Habitat. Sandy ground towards the sea in the South of England, 

 as near Hastings, Kent, and Sussex ; but principally in Jersey. 



Annual;. flowering in July. 



The inflorescence of this genus is^very remarkable in its structure : 

 the bractea subtending each spikelet are composed of valves similar in 

 arrangement to the perfect floret, and are supposed, with apparent jus- 

 tice, to be florets in an abortive state. 



GENUS XLIV. ARUN'DO. LINN. Reed. 



GEN. CHAR. Panicle loose. Spikelett many-flowered : the lower 

 floret bearing stamens only, and naked ; the upper perfect, and 

 surrounded by a tuft of hairs. Glumes two, unequal, shorter than 

 the florets. Glumelles two, unequal. Name, Arundo,' the Latin 

 word for Heed, which is supposed to be derived from ardeo, be- 

 cause the plants soon become dry. 



1. A. phrag'mitet, Linn. (Fig. 189.) common Reed. Panicle spread- 

 ing; florets about fire; leaves lanceolate, with a long rigid point. 



English Botany, t. 401. English Flora, vol. i. p. 169. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 310. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 64. 



Hoot with long, creeping, underground stems. Stem erect, from 

 five to eight feet high, stout, hard, round, smooth, striated, and leafy. 

 Leaves long, broad, lanceolate, with a very long, tapering, hard point, 

 striated, smooth, and somewhat glaucous,, the margins rough. Sheaths 

 long, close, striated, somewhat rough. Ligula a tuft of short hairs. 

 Inflorescence at first an erect, afterwards slightly drooping, spreading, 

 ample panicle, its branches arising in alternate half whorls, the lower 

 one surrounded with a tuft, of pale,, shining hairs; the branches long, 

 angular, smooth, slender, and much subdivided. Spikelets linedr- 

 Glumes unequal, lanceolate,, keeled and many-ribbed, b'rownish-purple. 

 Florets about five, close, afterwards spreading, 4ach elevated on a 



