THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. n? 



3. P. sanguinale. Fields, south of England, but a native 

 of the Tropics and warm regions. June to August. Root annual, 

 fibrous, Stem creeping at base, then ascending, slender, branched, 

 ribbed. Leaves flat and hairy. Sheaths hairy ; ligule large, 

 rounded and hairy at base. Panicle digitate, spikes from three to 

 seven, long, spreading. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, one 

 stalked, unilateral, dorsally compressed, purple, with one floret. 

 Glumes three in number, unequal, one very small, third double 

 as large as second, all awnless. Outer palea as large as third 

 glume, smooth, margins folded, awnless, purple ; inner palea 

 small, but in other respects resembling outer palea. 



The Finger Grass (3) is cultivated in Bohemia, where the 

 grain is used for porridge ; and in the southern United States, 

 under the name of Crab Grass, it is thought much of as a fodder 

 plant. In this country it flourishes in rich, light soil, but is hard 

 and coarse, and its hairy herbage is of no use, though birds pick 

 out the seeds while ripening among the florets. It spreads a 

 good deal, owing to the lower stems striking root. 



4. P. glabrum. Sandy fields south of England, but a 

 native of warm regions. July and August. Root annual, 

 fibrous. Stems numerous, creeping at first, then ascending, 

 smooth, leafy, striated. Leaves short, broad, glabrous, margins 

 hairy. Sheaths glabrous ; ligule blunt, and frequently hairy at 

 base. Panicle digitate, spikes two or three, not exceeding three 

 inches in length, slender. Spikelets in twos and threes, stalked, 

 flat at back, one floret, purple. Glumes three in number, one 

 small, two nearly equal, five-ribbed. Outer palea as large as 

 largest glume, ribbed, glossy ; inner palea ribbed, glossy. Awns 

 none. 



5 . P. verticillatum. Fields south and east of England, ranging 

 throughout Europe and Asia. July and August. Root annual, 

 fibrous. Stem geniculate, branched at base, smooth above, rough 

 below. Leaves lanceolate, pointed, edges rough. Sheaths 

 smooth, striated ; ligule blunt, short, fringed. Spike whorled, 

 rough. Spikelets small, sessile, flattened at back, bristly, bristles 

 depressed, one floret. Glumes three in number, one small, 



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