53 



Tribe VII.— PHALAKIDE/E. 



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 PHALARIDEjE. 



1. Third and fourth glumes narrow and bristle-like, outer glumes 

 strongly compressed 36 Phalaris 



1 . Third and fourth glumes broadly ovate or oblong, outer glumes 

 not stronglv flattened 2 



2. Outer glumes very unequal, the third and fourth glumes much 

 shorter than the outer ones and awned . . 37 Anthoxanthum 



2. Outer glumes nearly equal, scarcely exceeding the third and 

 fourth, which are awnless or very short awned. 38 Savastana 



