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Trine VIT.—PHALARIDE®. 
Spikelets more or less laterally compressed, one- or rarely three- 
flowered; glumes five, the first two empty and below the articu- 
lation of the rachilla, the third and fourth above the articulation, 
usually empty, very unlike the outer ones, rarely subtending 
staminate flowers, sometimes reduced to mere bristles, the fifth 
glume with a one-nerved or nerveless palea and a hermaphrodite 
flower. 
A small tribe, comprising six genera with about sixty 
species of comparatively little importance. Several of 
the species, sweet vernal grass and vanilla grass, are 
remarkable for possessing a peculiar fragrance due to 
their containing coumarin. Canary-grass is one of the 
best known members of this tribe. 
KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE PHALARIDE®. 
1. Third and fourth glumes narrow and bristle-like, outer glumes 
36 
strongly compressed -...--.-----------++------- ALARIS 
1. Third and fourth glumes broadly ovate or oblong, outer glumes 
ed 2 
2. Outer glumes very unequal, the third and fourth glumes much 
_ 
2. Outer glumes nearly equal, searcely exceeding the third and 
