CLASS III. ORDER II.] PHALARIS. 



♦§ 



of one membranous scarcely hairy valve. Stic/mas protruding. Seed 

 ovate, light brown. 



Habitat. — Waste places and brick-fields that have been some time 

 neglected. 



Annual ; flowering in July. 



These, like many other annual plants, possess in a remarkable degree 

 the property of adapting themselves, not only to an extensive range of 

 climate, but also to situations exceedingly different. This plant, though 

 not unfrequent in various parts of both England and Scotland, (for 

 which reason it is admitted into our Floras,) is a " native of the Canary 

 Isles," and cultivated in this country for the seed, which is well known 

 as the canary-seed, and used for the porpose of feeding canaries and 

 other small birds ; the c'uaff is relished by horses, but the cultivation 

 of the grass for agricultural purposes possesses no properties by which 

 it can be recommended. It is sometimes cultivated in the flower-garden 

 for the beauty of its variegated spike, and when dried it forms an ele- 

 gant winter decoration. 



2. P. arundina'cea, Linn. (Fig. 98.) Reed Canary-grass. Panicle 

 erect, its branches spreading, spikelets numerous, clustered, turned 

 to one side, abortive florets one or two, small, hairy. 



English Botany, t. 402, and t. 2160, fig. 2.— English Flora, vol. i. 

 p. 75. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 34. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. 

 Woburn. p. 359. — Diyra'phis arundina'cea, Lindley, Synopsis, p. 301. 



Root much tufted with long creeping underground stems. Steins 

 from three to five feet high, erect, strong, smooth, leafy. Leaves broad, 

 flat, lanceolate, tapering at the point, spreading, rough, especially 

 towards the points, finely striated, as are also the sheaths, which are 

 smooth, and closely embracing the stem. Ligula obtuse, somewhat 

 decurrent. Inflorescence a large open panicle, its branches spreading 

 angular. Gl-unes equal, lanceolate, keeled, ribbed, roughish on the 

 keel, often tinged with brown or purplish. Glumelles two, nearly 

 equal, smooth and shining, cartilaginous, each mostly bearing at its 

 base a small membranous hairy valve of an imperfect floret. 



A variety with variegated leaves is frequently cultivated in gardens, 

 and is commonly known by the name of Ribbon-grass, Ladies' Traces, 

 Painted Lady-grass, &c. 



Habitat. — Common on the margins of lakes, rivers, and ditches; the 

 variegated variety is occasionally found in a wild state in Cambridge- 

 shire, and " near Cardigan — Rev. J. S. Tozer." 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



This gi'ass was formerly knovTu by the name of Arun'do colora'ta. 

 It does not possess any properties so as to render it worthy the 

 notice of the agriculturist, except in low wet clayey districts. It 

 contains a considerable quantity of nutritive matter, but is not eaten by 

 cattle from choice ; nevertheless, as a winter provender, it might be 



