6 DIMENSIONS [CH. 



(Figs. 8 — 13). Farther, the stems themselves are usually 

 terete, and distinctly hollow except at the swollen nodes, 

 and only branch low down at the surface of the ground or 

 below it\ 



All our native grasses are herbaceous, and none of 

 them attain very large dimensions. In the following lists 

 I term those small which average about 6 — 18 inches in 

 the height of the tufts, whereas those over 3 feet high 

 may be termed large, the tufts being regarded as in 

 flower. The sizes cannot be given very accurately, and 

 starved specimens are frequently found dwarfed, but in 

 most cases these averages are not far wrong for the 

 species freely growing as ordinarily met with, and in 

 some cases are useful. I have omitted the rare species 

 throughout, and in the annexed lists have added the 

 popular names. 



Large Grasses. 



(Over 3 feet.) 

 Miliurii efimurii (Millet-grass). 

 Digraphis arundinacea (Reed-grass). 

 Aira coespitosa (Tufted Hair-grass). 

 Arrhenatherum avenaceum (False Oat). 

 Elymus arenarius (Lyme-grass). 

 Bromvs asper (Hairy Brome). 

 B. giganteus (Tall Brome). 

 Festuca elatior (Meadow Fescue). 



F. sylvatica (Reed Fescue). 

 Glyceria aquatica (Reed Sweet-grass). 



G. Jluitans (Floating Sweet-grass). 

 Arundo Phragmites (Common Reed). 



^ Tropical Bamboos branch in the upper parts and are woody. 

 Dinochloa and Olyra are climbing grasses. 



