GENERA OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 203 
ensis, P. phleoides, P. arundinacea, P. erucaeformis, and P. oryzoides. The 
second species is now referred to Phleum, the fourth to Beckmannia, and 
the fifth to Homalocenchrus. The first species is chosen as the type, be- 
cause this is the one that best corresponds to the description of the genus. 
in the Genera Plantarum 
(e. g., gluma obtusa) and 
is moreover the only one 
of the five species men- 
tioned above that was 
known by the name of 
Phalaris to the older au- 
thors, such as Bauhin. 
Typhoides Moench, 
Meth. 201. 1794. A single 
species, J. arundinacea, 
based on Phalaris arundi- 
nacea L., is included. 
Digraphis Trin., Fund. 
Agrost. 127. 1820. A 
single species, D. arundi- 
nacea, based on Phalaris . 
arundinacea W., is in- 
cluded. 
HEndallax Raf., Bull. Bot. Seringe 
1; 220. 1830. Phalaris arundinacea 
is the only species given. 
The most important species of 
the genus in the United States is 
Phalaris arundinacea L., reed 
canary grass, a native perennial 
found in wet ground in the 
cooler parts of the Northern 
Hemisphere. The inflorescénce 
is a rather loose spikelike panicle 
2 to 6 inches long. It is an im- 
™ portant constituent of lowland 
Fic, 121.—Canary grass, Phalaris hay in the Tas an from Mon- 
canariensis. Plant, ~ 4; spikelet tana to Wisconsin. A vari- 
and fertile floret with the two ety (picta L.) with blades 
sterile lemmas, ¥ 5. ‘ A ; / 
striped with white is grown for 
ornament in gardens under the name of ribbon grass or gardener’s 
garters. 
