GRASS FAMILY. 379 



11. DAC'TYLIS, L. ORCHARD GRASS. 



[Greek, Daktylos, a finger ; in reference to the form or size of the spikes.] 



Spikelets several-flowered, compressed, crowded in dense one-sided panic- 

 ulate dusters. Glumes unequal, acuminate, ciliate-scabrous on the keel. 

 Palece. nearly equal, the 5 nerves of the lower one converging into an 

 awn-like point. Stamens 3. Grain lance-oblong, acute at each end. 

 Perennials with stout culms, keeled leaves and pale-green clustered 

 spikelets. 



1. D. GLOMERA'TA, L. Panicle distinctly branched, rather secund ; 

 spikelets 3 - 4-flowered, in dense unilateral clusters at the ends of the 

 branches. 



CLUSTERED DACTYLIS. Orchard Grass. Cock's-foot Grass. 

 Fr. Dactyle pelotonne. Germ. Gemeines Knauel-gras. 



Whole plant scabrous. Root perennial. Culm 2 - 3 or 4 feet high. Leaves 6 - 18 inches 

 long, lance-linear, keeled, glaucous ; sheaths striate ; ligule elongated, lacerate. Panicle 

 glaucous, contracted, racemose at summit, rather one-sided ; branches 3 -5, solitary, erect, 

 distant, subdivided towards the extremity. Spikelets about 4-flowered, compressed, 

 crowded in dense unilateral ovate or lance-oblong clusters at the ends of the branches. 

 Glumes unequal, the lower one narrower, membranaceous, the upper one 3-nerved, 

 scabrous on the keel. Lower palea scabrous, ciliate on the keel, which is extended into a 

 cusp or short scabrous awn ; upper palea acuminate, bifid at apex, ciliate on the two green 

 keels, the margins folded in so as to meet, embracing the stamens. Caryopsis lance- 

 oblong, sub-triquetrous, acute at each end. 



Fields and orchards : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. June. 



O6s. This grass has been introduced and cultivated to a considerable 

 extent. Our farmers, however, are not agreed upon its merits. Some 

 condemn it as unworthy of culture either for pasture or hay ; while 

 others set a high value on it for both. The fact seems to be, that it is 

 inferior to Timothy (PHLEUM PRATENSE, L.) for hay ; yet it has the ad- 

 vantage of the latter in being mature at the same time with clover, 

 with which both are usually cultivated. It is also less exhausting to 

 the soil. But its great value is as a pasture, when sown sufficiently 

 thick, which, however, it rarely is, and hence is apt to form bunches 

 or tussocks. It is of quick growth, and is speedily reproduced after 

 being cut, or eaten down ; so much so that we may almost literally ap- 

 ply to it the lines of VIRGIL : 



" Et quantum longis carpent armenta diebus 

 Exigua tantum gelidus ros nocte reponet." Georg. 2. 201. 



" Cool dews restore beneath night's transient hours, 

 All that the herd each live-long day devours." Sotheby. 



This grass also possesses the additional advantage of thriving well in 

 the shade of trees, and answers a very good purpose in orchards, &c. 

 The seed is usually sown in autumn, immediately after Wheat or Eye 



