ORDER 156. GRAMINE^E. 789 



hispid spines as long as itself and containing 2 3 spikelets ; glumes acuminate- 

 mucronate, about 3" long, producing but 1 caryopsis. Sandy alluvion, N. J. 

 to Can. and Wis. The adhesive burrs are annoying. 



22. PHAL'ARIS L. CANARY GRASS. (Gr. <j>aXapi$, white crested, as 

 are the flowers.) Spikelets 1 (theoretically 3) -flowered ; glumes 2, sub- 

 equal, carinatc ; palese 2, coriaceous, awnless, shorter than the glumes, 

 coating the caryopsis, each with an external, accessory palea or abor- 

 tive rudiment at base. Grasses with flat Ivs. contracted, often spike- 

 like panicles. 



1 P. arundinacea L. Culm erect, sparingly branched or simple, 2 5f high ; 

 Ivs. spreading, lance-linear, veined, rough-edged, on smooth, striate sheaths; pan. 

 very dense, elliptic-oblong, somewhat secund, 3 G' long, glumes 3-veined, whitish, 

 scabrous; rudiments pilous. If Common in ditches and swamps, Can. to Car. 

 and Ky. A large, showy grass, but not valuable. July, Aug. (P. Americana 

 Torr. nee Ell.) 



P. PICTA is the well-known striped or ribbon grass, with beautifully variegated 

 leaves longitudinally striped in endless diversity, f 



2 P. Canariensis L. CANARY GRASS. Culm erect, or geniculato at the lower 

 joints, round, striate, leafy; If or more high; Ivs. lance-linear; panicles spicato, 

 ovoid, erect ; 1 to 2' long ; glumes whitish, with green veins ; winged on the keel ; 

 rudiments smooth. (1) Fields and pastures, not common. The glumes are cu- 

 riously marked with white and green. Tho fruit is the chief food of Canary birds. 

 Jl. Isle Fortunatus. 



23. ANTHOXAN'THUM, L. SWEET-SCENTED VERNAL GRASS. (Gr. 

 dvOog, a flower, t-avOog, yellow ; from the color of its spikes.) Spike- 

 lets 3-flowered, the central one , the 2 lateral ones neuter, each con- 

 sisting of one bearded palea ; glumes 2, unequal, the upper one larger, 

 inclosing the flowers ; palea3 of the $ 2, short, awnless ; stamens 2. 



A. odoratum L. Slender, erect, 10 18'; Ivs. short, striate, pale green; pan. 

 spicate, oblong-ovoid ; spikelete pubescent, on short peduncles ; pales of the 

 lateral fls. linear-oblong, ciliate on the margin, one of them with a bent awn from 

 near the base, the other with a straight awn from the back near the summit. 

 An early-flowering, deliciously fragrant grass, in most of tho States and Can. 

 May, Jn. Eur. 



24. HIEROCH'LOA, Gmel. SENECA GRASS. (Gr. tepoc, sacred, 

 j^/loa, glass ; from its fragrance.) Spikelets 3-flowered ; glumes 2, 

 scarious ; lateral flowers staminate, triandrous ; central flower , dian- 

 drous (rarely triandrous). Sweet-scented. Inflor. paniculate. 



1 H. borealis R. & Sch. Smooth, glossy; culm simple, erect, 15 20'; radical 

 Ivs. as long as the stem, cauline 24' long, lanceolate, mucronate ; panicle rather 

 1-sided and spreading, pyramidal, few-flowered, 2 3' long; branchlets flexuous; 

 spikelets broad, subcordate, colored, unarmed; glumes acuminate; lower pale cili- 

 ate. If Wet meadows, Virg. to Arc. Am. Yery fragrant. May. 



2 H. alpina R. & S. Smooth; culm erect, stout, 6 8'; Ivs. linear-lanceolate, 

 acute; sheaths tumid, longer than the internodes; panicle ovoid, H 2' long, with 

 the branches in pairs ; spikelets purple, compressed, large, longer than the branches ; 

 glumes lanceolate; lower fl. with an awn about as long as the pales. 1( Summits 

 of the White Mts. (Bigelow). Jn. 



25. HOL'CUS, L. SOFT GRASS. (Gr. o/U6^, something which draws ; 

 application obscure.) Spikelets 2-flowered ; glumes herbaceous, boat- 

 shaped, mucronate ; flowers pedicellate, the lower one perfect and awn- 

 less, upper one $ or neuter, . awned on the back. Fls. in an open 

 panicle. 



H. lanatiis L. Hoary pubescent ; culm 1| 2fhigh; Ivs. lance-linear, 2 5' long; 



