84 BRITISH GRASSES. 



The Ceratochloe pendida is another of these grasses 

 suited for bouquets ; it is larger than those last men- 

 tioned, attaining a height of one and a half feet, but it 

 is very graceful and well deserving of a place in the 

 border. 



Ceratochloe uniloides is about the same height, has large 

 spikes proceeding from a branched rachis. The panicle 

 is nodding, and the spikelets contain six to eight florets. 

 The seed has three little horns, hence the generic name. 

 It flowers in July, and is a native of North America. 



Diplachne fascicularis is another North American 

 grass of considerable beauty. Mr. Loudon derives the 

 name of the genus from words signifying " divided " and 

 " chaff," because the palese are bifid at the apex. It is 

 an annual, and inhabits the seacoast. The panicle is 

 erect, contracted, and oblong. Most of the branches 

 are simple, but a few of the lower are occasionally 

 branched, they are very numerous and extremely slender. 

 The spikelets are oblong and narrow, the leaves very 

 long and smooth. It flowers in June and July. 



We must not close our chapter on ornamental grasses 

 without a kind word to the familiar favourite of our 

 childhood the Ribbon-grass (Digr aphis arundinacea). 

 Old-fashioned garden lovers still call this by quaint 

 old names as Ci Gardener's Garters," "Ladies' Laces," 

 " Windle straw," etc., and we have seen many an ama- 

 teur of horticulture scorn it as a vulgar weed ; but those 

 who look upon it with an unprejudiced eye will value it 

 still, even if they feel none of the prestige of old asso- 

 ciation. We say nothing about its pale panicles, we 

 never suffered them them to expand in our dear old 

 garden, the striped flag-like leaves were the objects of 

 our admiration, and we love the parti-coloured streamers 



