46 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



Genus PHRAGMITES, Trinius. 

 Phrag-mi'-tes. 



From the Greek, phraginitis, growing in hedges. 



Spikelets from three to seven-flowered, the flowers not very close 

 to each other, their stems being covered with long silky threads 

 nearly or quite as long as the flowers ; lower glumes very unequal 

 in length and the flowering glume is awl-shaped and three times as 

 long as the upper. 



48. PHRAGMITES COMMUNIS, Trinius. 

 Phrag-mi'-tes com-mu'-nis. 



PLATE XXIII. 

 Common Name. Reed. 



Stems erect, from five to twelve feet high, and an inch or more in 

 diameter at the base ; leaves from twelve to eighteen inches long 

 and two inches wide. Panicle very large, loose, and somewhat 



nodding ; spikelets from three to flowered. 



This is our largest grass and grows along the borders of streams 

 and ponds. Although found widely distributed over the world, it 

 does not appear to be very common in Maine. Flowers in August. 

 This grass is of no value for fodder, but is used in some countries for 

 thatching the roofs of houses, for light fences and for screens. 



Genus LOLIUM, Linneus. 

 Lo'-li-um. 



The ancient Latin name. 



Spikelets several-flowered and arranged alternately at each point 

 of the rhachis of the simple spike placed edgewise against the 

 rhachis. Inner glume wanting, except in the upper spikelet. 



49. LOLIUM PERENNE, Linneus. 

 Lo'-li-um pe-ren'-ne. 



PLATE XXIV. 



Common Names. Rye Grass, Ray Grass, Common Darnel, 

 Italian Rye Grass, Perennial Rye Grass. 



Perennial. Stems erect, from one to two feet high. Glumes 

 shorter than the spikelet; flowers from eight to twelve in each 



