Graminccc Bavibusa. 541 



There are several other varieties or species in cultivation, as 

 B. aurea> violacea, pubescens, verticilldta, Limbnii, etc. 



Amongst our indigenous ornamental Grasses we may direct 

 attention to Arundo Phragmltis, syn. Phragmltis communis, 

 Marsh Reed, the tallest and showiest of native Grasses, rising 

 to a height of 6 to 10 feet, with dense silvery terminal panicles 

 of flowers. Phdiaris arundinacea variegata, the well-known 

 Ribbon-Grass or Lady's Garters; Brlza media, common 

 Quaking-Grass ; Alra flexubsa and Agrostis Spica-venti the 

 two latter very graceful species. 



The hardy exotic species we may divide into two groups, 

 annual and perennial. To the former group belong Lagurus 

 ovatus, Hare's-foot Grass; Lamdrckia aurea; Polypogon 

 Monspeliensis, Beard Grass (a very scarce British Grass), with 

 dense spike-like inflorescence; Agrostis nebulbsa, A., plumbsa, 

 Brlza grdcilis, Eragrostis elegans, Piptdtherum multiftdrum, 

 with graceful much-branched panicled inflorescence ; Chlbris 

 barbdta, C. elegans, 0. radidta, Dactyloctenium ^Er/ypt/iacum^ 

 Eleusine Barcelonensis, with fascicled spicate inflorescence ; 

 Leptochlba grdcilis, with the spikes arranged in a raceme ; and 

 Pennisetum longisti/lon and Tricholcvna rosea, with narrow 

 panicles. All of the foregoing species are very beautiful, but 

 for elegance, lightness and grace, those described as having a 

 much-branched panicled inflorescence are the most desirable. 

 Zea Mays-, Maize or Indian Corn, is a half-hardy annual of 

 which there are many handsome variegated and other varieties 

 in cultivation. Amongst perennial hardy exotic grasses the best 

 are Agrostis Steveni, Erldnthus Ravennce, Melica altissima, 

 Hordeum jubdtum. Squirrel-tail Grass ; Stlpa pennata, and 

 other species, Feather Grass ; Andropbgon argenteus, A. 

 strictuSy etc., ranging from 1 to 3 feet high. Gymnothrix 

 latifblia is a very beautiful large-growing grass in the way of 

 Gynerium, and Sdccharum Maddeni has fine ornamental 

 foliage. 



There are handsome variegated varieties of Poa pratensis, 

 Festuca ovlna, Ddctylis glomerdta, Arundo Dbnax, etc., very 

 effective for edging. 



