PIIALARIS. 193 



Name compounded of antTios, flower, and anthon, 

 of flowers. L. 



1. A, Odoratum (Sweet Scented Vernal). See 

 page 57. 



56. PHALARIS Linn. CANARY GRASS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Spikelets crowded in a clustered or spiked panicle, 

 with 2 neutral mere rudiments (a scale or pedicel) in 

 place of lateral flowers, one on each side, at the base 

 of the pereect one, which is flattish, awnless, of 2 

 shining palets, shorter than the equal boat-shaped 

 and keeled glumes, finally coriaceous or cartilagin- 

 ous, and closely enclosing the flattened, free, and 

 smooth grain ; stamens 3 ; leaves broad, mostly flat. 



The ancient name, from pTialos, shining, alluding 

 either to the palets or grain. 



1. P. Canariensis (The Common Canary grass). 

 This grass is cultivated for the sake of its seed for 

 the canary bird. Flowers in Tuly and August. 



Waste places and roadsides, from Massachusetts to 

 Pennsylvania. 



2. P. Arundinacea (Reed-like Canary grass). 

 Remarks. A dark, reddish-color seed, long, smooth 



and shining root, creeping height 4 to 6 feet ; flowers 

 in July, Grows naturally on alluvial soils by the 

 sides of rivers, lakes, pools, etc. According to the 

 experiments of Sir H. Davy, this grass contains a 

 considerable portion of nutritious matter, but from 



