70 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. [ci>. Ill* 



cula, exclude almost every other plant. The great utility of these 

 plants hardly requires to be remarked. Wheat, barley, oats, and 

 rye, belong to this great family, but are all of exotic origin. Al- 

 most all the species are eaten by cattle, especially when young and 

 tender, although they usually refuse the straws after flowering. 

 Lolium temulentum is the only species that possesses poisonous pro- 

 perties. Young botanists generally dislike the examination of these 

 plants, on account of its supposed difficulty ; but with a little at- 

 tention, the species can in almost every case be satisfactorily deter- 

 mined.] 



13. PHA'LAKIS. CANARY-GRASS. 



Calyx one-flowered, of two nearly equal, keeled, compressed., 

 acute chaff-scales. Corolla double, concealed by the calyx, of 

 three or four husks, the two inner larger, downy. Nectaries two 

 equal, egg-shaped scales. Filaments thread-like ; anthers ob- 

 long. Styles short, with feathery stigmas. Seed egg-shaped, 

 invested by the hardened internal husks. Named from phalos, 

 shining. 29. 



1. P. canariensis. Canary Grass. Panicle egg-shaped, close; 

 chaff-scales keeled, hairy ; outer corolla of two bare husks. About 

 eighteen inches high : straw erect, striated, roughish : leaves lance- 

 shaped, soft : panicle erect, compound, resembling an egg-shaped 

 spike, beautifully variegated with green and white : this is a foreign 

 species, the seeds of which accidentally dropped, sometimes spring 

 up in waste places and upon dunghills. Annual : flowers in July : 

 frequent. Eng. Bot. vol. xix. pi. 1310. Eng. FL vol. i. p. 75. 98. 



2. P. arundindcea. Reed Canary Grass. Panicle erect, loose ; 



outer husks bearded. Roots creeping, sending out large fibres : 



straws from three to five feet high : leaves lance-shaped, striated, 

 smooth : panicle about six inches long, tinged with purple : chaff- 

 scales acute, keeled with a nerve on each side, rough on the keel 

 and nerves : outer husks minute, each terminated by a tuft of hairs. 

 Perennial : flowers in July : grows by the edges of rivers : common. 

 This plant has altogether the appearance of an Arundo ; a variety 

 with striped leaves, is common in gardens. Eng. Bot. vol. vi. pi. 

 402, and vol. xxx. pi. 2160, f. 2. Eng. FL vol. i. p. 75. 99. 



14. PHLE'UM. CAT'S-TAIL-GRASS. 



Calyx one-flowered, of two nearly equal, compressed, pointed 

 or awned chaff-scales. Corolla of two concealed, unequal 

 husks, the outer embracing the inner. Filaments hair-like ; 

 anthers linear, protruded. Germen roundish. Styles thread- 

 like, spreading, stigmas feathery. Seed oblong, loose. Name 

 phleos of the Greeks. 30. 



1. P.pratense. Common Cat* s-tail-grass. Timothy Grass. Panicle 

 spiked, cylindrical ; chaff-scales abrupt, fringed on the keel, longer 



than the awn. Root fibrous ; straws from two to three feet high, 



knotty, erect : leaves linear, flat, rough, with long sheaths : panicle 

 erect, very close, spiked, of a cylindrical form, from two to four 

 inches long, green : the roots are sometimes bulbous. Perennial : 

 flowers in the summer months : grows in meadows and pastures : 

 common. Eng. Bot. vol. xv. pi. 1078. Eng. FL vol. i. p. 76. 100. 



2. P. alpinum. Alpine Cat's-tail-grass. Panicle spiked, between 



