GBAMINE^. 613 



A small genus, cliiefly south European and west Asiatic, differing from 

 Poa in the inflorescence, and in most species by the presence of an outer 

 bract under the spikelets, which is analogous to those of the Sedge family. 



1. Blue Sesleria. Sesleria cserulea, Ard. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1613.) 



A perennial, 6 inches to nearly a foot high, with a shortly creeping root- 

 stock, and densely tufted, short, and rather stiff radical leaves. Spike (or 

 spike-like panicle) ovoid or oblong, i to J inch long, often assuming a 

 bluish-grey hue. Spikelets not numerous, but closely packed, generally in 

 pau's, one sessile, the other shortly stalked ; the lower ones with a broad, 

 glume-like bract at their base. Glumes about 2 lines long, the flowering 

 ones usually 2 in each spikelet, shortly protruding beyond the outer ones, 

 their central tooth forming a short point. 



In mountain pastures, especially in Hmestone districts, in Europe and 

 western Asia, from the mountains of Spain and Italy to Scandinavia. In 

 Britain, confined to Scotland, the north of England, and the north and west 

 of Ireland. Fl. spring and early summer. 



XLII. REED. ARUNDO. 



Very tall, erect, perennial Grasses, with long, broad leaves, and a large, 

 crowded panicle. Spikelets several-flowered, with long, silky hairs on the 

 axis, enveloping the flowers. 



The species, though not numerous, are very conspicuous in the temperate 

 and warmer chmates both of the new and the old world, and form a 

 natural genus if considered as includmg, as well our northern species, often 

 separated under the name of Phragmites, as the South American Pampas 

 Grass, recently introduced into our gardens, and generically distinguished 

 under the name of Gfgnerimn, on accovmt of its flowers usually (but, it is 

 said, not always) dioecious. The genus differs fi-om Seareed and Smallreed 

 chiefly in having more than one flower m the spikelet. 



1. Conuuon Reed. Ai^ndo Phragmites, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 401. Phragmites communis, Brit. Fl.) 



A stout perennial, usually 5 or 6 feet high, but sometimes twice as much, 

 with a long, creeping rootstock, and numerous long leaves, often an inch 

 broad all the way up the stem. Panicle from a few inches to a foot long, 

 with numerous branches, more or less drooping, of a purplish-brown colour. 

 Spikelets veiy numerous, narrow, above 6 Unes long. Outermost glume 

 lanceolate, concave, about 1\ lines long, and empty ; the second narrower, 

 and twice that length ; the third stiU longer, and also empty, or with 1 

 or 2 stamens only ; and all 3 without hairs outside. Above are 2 or 3 

 flowering glumes about the same length, but narrower, ending in an almost 

 awn-like point, and surrounded by sSky hairs which lengthen much as the 

 seed ripens, giving the panicle a beautiful silveiy appearance. 



In wet ditches, marshes, and shallow waters, almost all over the world, 

 from the tropics to the Arctic Zone. Common in Britain. Fl. end of summer, 

 and autumn. 



3a 



