136 



GRASSES. 



sents the stamens, ■which are three hi each flower ; the filaments are of the length 

 of the corolla ; the anthers are two-forked, or bijid ; d is the pistil, having an egyi;- 

 shaped ovary, and two spreadmg and feathery styles ; at e is the seed, not havij / 

 any proper pericarp but inclosed by the two scales of the corolla : it is single a I 

 naked. 



Fig. 132. 



Fig. 132 shows tlie orchard-grass of its natural size ; a is the stem, whicl is a 

 cylindric and jointed culm. At b is the leaf, which is long, narroiu, pointed, a xple, 

 and entire. At c are the flowers, which are thick, panicled, and terminal. 



The orchard-grass is very common in the New England and Middle States, 



Of all the grasses, the darnel {Loliuni) only is poison ^ns ; 

 this plant seems to have been known in the clays of Yirgil, a^ ho 

 in his "Pastorals" i*epresents the shepherds speaking of the 

 loliuin as destructive to their flocks. The Darnel, tare or lo- 

 liiim^ produces its flowers in a spike, almost in the manner of 

 wheat, but the calyx consists of but a single outer valve, and 

 contains a spikelet of many equal flowers like a Festuca. The 

 common species here naturalized is perennial, and has beardless 

 flowers. The delightful odor of new hay is owing to the pres- 

 ence. of the Antlwxaiithiim odoratum. The flowers, when ma- 

 ture, form a yellow^, chaffy spike. 



CLASS TETEANDEIA, FOUE STAMENS. 



1Y7. The same number of stamens are found in plants of this 

 class as in those of tlie class Didynamia, but in the former the 

 stamens are of equal length. We here meet "vyith no large 



What does Fig. 132 represent J — Which of the grasses is poisonous 1 — 177. Claw Tetran4ria. 



