DIGRAPHIS. 121 



As an ornamental grass it is also worthy of attention. 

 There are few who have not had an opportunity of 

 noticing its tall slender culms and globular heads, the 

 overlapping spikelets so prettily variegated with white 

 and green, for wherever a pet canary or other bird fa- 

 vouring canary-seed is hung near an open window, seeds 

 are thrown out into the garden below, and thus many 

 a thriving plant of Phalaris canariensis rears its striped 

 head unexpectedly, to the surprise and pleasure of the 

 floral amateur. Its only wild habitat is in cornfields, 

 where it appears in consequence of some accidental ad- 

 mixture of seed. We have found it in Wiltshire and 

 Cornwall in such situations. It is also a frequent plant 

 on dunghills. 



Genus VII. DIGEAPHIS. 



Gen. Char. Scales or rudimentary glumes at base of florets 

 minute, narrow, hairy ; outer glumes keeled, but the keels 

 not winged ; panicle branched and somewhat spreading. 



Digraphis arundinacea, Trin. Reed Canary-grass. 



{Phalaris, Eng. Bot.) 

 Eoot perennial, creeping widely, tufted ; stems from two 

 to five feet high, erect, strong, smooth, reedy, with several 

 purple joints bearing five or six leaves which are also reed- 

 like, lanceolate, striated, pointed, rather glaucous, roughish 

 on both sides, and toothed at the margins ; sheaths scarcely 

 at all inflated ; ligules short, bluntish ; panicle branched, 

 spreading ; branches numerous, compound, rough, angular, 

 turning one way ; spikelets numerous, crowded, purplish or 

 rosy ; outer glumes lanceolate, nearly equal, keeled, ribbed, 

 awnless, roughish ; flowering glumes smooth, glossy, bearing 

 the two scales at the base, fringed with long hairs. 



