SUPPLEMENT. 
THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 
By Cuarues Louts PoLiarp. 
CHAPTER IV. 
Order Glumiflorae.—The Grasses and Sedges. 
HERE are probably no two families of flowering plants more 
T likely to be confused by the amateur than the Gramineae and 
Cyperaceae, known popularly as the grasses and sedges. The 
farmer would designate both 
groups by the comprehensive term 
‘thay’, and would find examples 
Y~ ofeach in the mowings from salt 
marsh as well as from upland 
meadow. ‘There are, however, 
important differences between the 
families, and sincé from the eco- 
nomic standpoint the grasses are 
of the highest value, while the 
sedges are nearly worthless, it is 
well to understand these differ- 
ences thoroughly at the outset. 
Family Gramineae (some- 
times called Poaceae).—Grass 
Family. This is one of the 
largest families of flowering 
plants, over 300 genera and 3500 
species being recognized. They 
are widely distributed in all coun- 
a tries, and present astonishing ex- 
Fic. 18—Buffalo grass, Bulbilis dactyloides. tremes in size from the diminutive 
Seribner, Bull. No. 7, Div. of Agrost., . = , 
v. oe ot agele) herbaceous Phippsia of arctic re- 
