GRASS FAMILY 



3. Phalaris Canariensis L,. Canary- 

 grass. (Fig. 292.) 



v 



Phalaris Canariensis I,. Sp. PI. 54. 1753. 



More or less roughened, culms i-3 tall, 

 erect, simple or branched, glabrous. Sheaths 

 shorter than the internodes; ligule about i" 

 long, rounded; leaves 2'-i2' long, 2 // -6 // wide, 

 strongly scabrous; spikes > / -l - J^ / long, ovoid or 

 oblong; spikelets 3 // -4" long; outer scales gla- 

 brous or sparingly pubescent ; third and fourth 

 scales about half the length of the fifth, broadly 

 lanceolate, thin-membranous, sparingly hairy; 

 fifth scale about two-thirds as long as the spike- 

 let, acute, pubescent with appressed silky hairs. 



In waste places, Xova Scotia to Ontario, Vir- 

 ginia and Nebraska. Xaturalized from Europe. 

 Outer scales usually nearly white with green veins! 

 The grain is the common food of canary birds. 

 July-Aug. 



19. ANTHOXANTHUM L. Sp. PI. 2 s. 1753. 



Fragrant annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and spike-like panicles. Spike- 

 lets i-flowered, narrow, somewhat compressed. Scales 5 ; the two outer acute or produced 

 into a short awn, the first shorter than the second ; third and fourth scales much shorter. 

 2-lobed, awned on the back ; the fifth scale shorter than the others, obtuse. Stamens 7. 

 Styles distinct. Stigmas elongated, plumose. Grain free, enclosed in the scales, [('.reek. 

 referring to the yellow hue of the spikelets in some species.] 



A genus of 4 or 5 species, natives of Europe. 



i. Anthoxanthum odoratum L. 



Sweet Vernal-grass. I ; i<^. j 



Anthoxanthum odoratum'. .-S. ijjj. 



Culms i-2 tall, erect, simple or branched, 

 smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the 

 internodes; ligule i"-2" long, acnte, membra- 

 nous ; leaves %'-f>' long, i"-3" wide, glabrous 

 or nearly so; spike-like panicles i '-7*1' long, 

 branches short, erect or ascending; spikelets 4" 

 long, crowded; outer scales ..cute, glabrous or 

 pubescent, the first i-nerved, half as long as the 

 second which is 3-ncrved ; the third and fourth 

 very hairy, the former with an awn ncarh 

 its length inserted about the middle, the fourth 

 scale bearing near the base an awn more than 

 twice its length ; fifth scale about two-thirds as 

 long as the fourth, obtuse or rounded at the apex, 

 and bearing a fertile flower. 



In fields and meadows throughout nearly the 

 whole of North Ameru 'yia* 



Naturalized from Europe. Jun. July. 



20. SAVASTANA Schrank, Baier. Fl. i: 100. 1789. 

 [HIEROCHI.OEJ. G. Gmel. Fl. Sib. i: 101. 174;.! 



Aromatic perennial grasses, with flat leaves and contracted or open panicles. SpikeleU 

 3-flowered, the terminal flower perfect, the others stamiuate. Scales 5; the first and second 

 nearly equal, acute, glabrous; the third and fourth somewhat shorter, obtus* 

 ginate, 2-toothed or 2-lobed, with or without an awn, enclosing a palet and stam< 

 scale often produced into a short awn, enclosing a palet and perfect flower. 

 the staminate flowers 3, in the perfect 2. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain 

 enclosed in the scales. [Name unexplained.] 



About 8 species, natives of temperate and cold regions. 



