GEAMrtTEiE. 579 



densely tufted at its base. Spikelets very numerous, in a panicle 6 to 8 

 inches long, rather compact, but not closely imbricated nor spike-like as in 

 Phalaris and Phleum ; the lower branches often spreading. Outer glumes 

 about 2 hnes long, lanceolate and pointed, but not awned, keeled but not 

 winged, pale-green or whitish with green nerves. Flowering glume smooth 

 and shining, and hardened romid the seed as in Phalaris, with two minute 

 hnear hairy scales or rudimentary ghunes at its base, one on each side. 



On river-banks and in marshes, in Europe, Russian Asia, and North 

 America, extending from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. Com- 

 mon in Britain. Fl. summer. A variety with variegated leaves is often 

 cultivated in gardens under the name of Striped-grass or Rihbon-grass. 



YIII. PHLEUIVI. PHLEUM. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, flat, and crowded into a cylindrical or ovoid spike o' 

 spike-Uke panicle. Outer glumes boat-shaped, then' keels projecting into a 

 point or very short awn. Elowering glume shorter, very thin, awnless or 

 with a very short awn on the back. Palea very thin, sometimes with a mi- 

 nute bristle at its base outside, which is the continuation of the axis of the 

 spikelet. 



A small genus, widely spread over the temperate and colder regions of 

 the northern hemisphere, distinguished from Foxtail chiefly by the presence 

 of the palea. 



Outer glumes truncate and broadly scarious below the point. 



Spike long and cylindrical. Points of the glumes not half so long as 



the glume itself 1 . Timothy P. 



Spike short, ovoid or oblong. Points or awns of the glumes nearly 



as long as or longer than the glume itself 2. Alpine P. 



Outer glumes tapering into a minute point. 



Perennial. Glumes linear -lanceolate 3. Soehmer's P, 



Annual. 

 Glumes wedge-shaped, leas than a line long ; the lateral riba in- 

 conspicuous. Spike long and slender 4. Bough P. 



Glumes lanceolate, strongly ciliated on the keel, 1^ lines long; the 



lateral ribs prominent. Spike short 5. Sand P. 



1. Timothy Phleum. Phleum pratense, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1076. Timothy-grass. Cat's-tail.) 



A perennial, 1 to 3 feet high ; the leaves rather soft, although rough on the 

 edges. Spike (or spike-hke panicle) cyhndrical and very compact, from 1 

 to 3 or even 4 inches long, with very numerous small spikelets. Outer 

 glumes about a line long, with broad, scarious edges, truncate at the top ; 

 the green keel slightly ciliate and projecting into a point shorter than the 

 glume itself. Flowering glume entirely included in the outer ones and 

 closely covering the palea ; the stamens and styles protruding from the 

 top. 



In meadows and pastures, in Europe and Russian Asia, from the Medi- 

 terranean to the Arctic regions. Abundant in Britain. Fl. early summer, 

 and often again in autumn. 



2. Alpine Phleum. Phleum alpinum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 519.) 

 Perennial like the last, but usually of much lower stature ; the sheaths of 



