264 GEAMINE^'E. Beckvmnnia. 



Moist meadows and marshy places (Bolander) ; Cascade Mountains (Lyall) ; Oregon, IloweU. 

 Though introduced at tlie East, it is apparently indigenous on this coast. It°is found in 

 Europe, Asia, northern Africa and Australia, where as well as m New Zealand it is "truly in- 

 digenous." As it yields but a scanty herbage, which is not much relished by stock, it has little 

 value to the farmer. 



9. BECKMAWNIA, Host. Beckmaxn's-Guass. 



Panicle long and narrow, with the spikelets crowded upon its branches in two 



rows. Spikelets two-flowered, or by abortion one-flowered. Glumes boat-shaped, 



inflated, abruptly pointed, with scarious margins. Florets sessile. Lower palet 



membranaceous, 5-nerved, in the lower floret terminating in a very acute often 



curved point. Stamens 3. Styles 2, short, densely covered with simple hairs. 



A genus of a single perennial species. In all the American specimens we have thus far exiiiii- 

 ined the upper floret is wanting. It has a wide range from southern Europe to Jai)an, i\t)rtli 

 America, etc. 



1. B. enicseformis, Host. Culms 2 or 3 feet high : leaves 4 to 8 inches long 

 and about 3 lines wide, roughish, with an elongated ligule : panicle often a foot 

 long, its usually erect branches solitary, or in twos and threes, and sometimes sub- 

 divided : spikelets about 2 lines long, nearly orbicular, green on the keel and some- 

 what wrinkled transversely. — Gram, iii, t. 206: Eeichenb. Icon. Fl. Germ i 57 

 t. 171. 



Common northward, extending to Oregon and British America. Mr. Bolander states that this 

 grass loi-ms the greater part of the herbage in the wet meadows of the northern part of the State 

 According to H. Engelmann the seeds are collected for food by the Utah Indians. Some speci- 

 mens have much the appearance of a Paspalum. The specific name means cnUrpillar-slmpui, re- 

 lerrmg to the ^'semblance of the branches of the panicle to some green larva. 



10. PHALARIS, Linn. Canary-Grass. 



Panicle clustered or crowded to form a cylindrical or ovoid spike. Spikelets broad 



and flattened, with one perfect floret, on each side of which is a neutral one reduced 



to a mere rudiment or scale. Glumes equal, boat-shaped, usually Avith a winged 



keel. Perfect flower shorter than the glumes, flattened, awnless. Lower palet 



shining, becoming cartilaginous when ripe, enclosing the smaller upper one. Scales 



2 and minute, or wanting. Stamens 3. Ovary smooth : styles elongated, united 



below ; stigmas slender, hairy. Grain flat, closely inclosed by, but free from, the 



palets. 



A small genus, chiefly belonging to the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. The most im- 

 portant species is the one which furnishes the Canary-seed of commerce. 



§ 1. Panicle dense and spike-like: the glumes keeled. — Phalaris proper. 



* Glumes with a hroad keel : annuals. 



1. P. Canariensis, Linn. Culms 1 to 3 feet high : leaves flat with the upper 

 sheaths much inflated : spike 1 to \\ inches long, ovoid or somewhat cylindrical, 

 very dense : glumes broad with a conspicuous keel, white on the margin, with a 

 distinct green line witliin it : rudimentary florets as small lanceolate smooth scales ; 

 perfect floret with minute silky hairs. 



An introduced annual frequently found near settlements where the rul)bish from bird-cages has 

 been thrown. Largely cultivated in Europe and occasionally in this country for the seed, which 

 IS a favorite food of cagti-birds. 



2. P. intermedia, Bosc. Culm variable, sometimes 4 or .5 feet high, smooth : 

 leaves short, the upper an inch long or less, often glaucous ; sheaths, especially the 

 uppermost, inflated : spike 1 to 2 inches long, ovoid ; spikelets 3 lines long: glumes 

 pointed : rudimentary florets linear, hairy, less tliaii half tlie length of the perfect 



