102 



in habit from the large cane. It blooms sometimes two or more consecutive years 

 •without dying down to the root. live stock like it as -well as the large cane. Both 

 grow best on rich lands, hills or bottoms : but they will grow on thin clay soil, im- 

 prove it, and, if protected from stock, rapidly extend by sending out long roots 

 (rootstocks) with buds. 



The small cane is found sparingly as far north as Baltimore, Md. 



The large cane is probably confined to the Gulf States, but this is 



yet uncertain. 



Whole number of genera 120 



Whole number of species 675 



SYNOPSIS OF THE TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICAN 



GRASSES. 



Series 1. — Panicacese. 



Spikelets articulated with the pedicel below the outer glumes, and 

 consisting of one fertile terminal flower, and usually an inferior one 

 which is male or sterile. 



Tkibk 1.— PAXICE.E. 



Fertile spikelets perfect, rarely by abortion unisexual (monoecious 

 or dioecious,) spicate or paniculate. Outer glumes usually two, rarelv 

 one or none, flowering glume indurated in fruit, or at least more rigid 

 than the outer ones, unawned. 



Group 1. — Branches of the simple panicle spike-like, or varionslv 

 branched, not produced beyond the spikelets. 

 Genera: 1. Eeimeria; 2. Paspaluin ; 3. Anthasnantia : i. Am- 

 phicarpum; 5. Eriochloa; 6. Beckmannia ; 7. Panicum; 

 8. Oplismenus ; 9. Setaria. 

 Group 2. — Spikes or racemes simple, solitary or rarely paniculate. 

 Spikelets surrounded by or intermixed with abortive bran- 

 ches of the panicle, forming a lobed or bristly involucre, 

 which is deciduous with the spikelet. 

 Genera: 1. Cenchrus; 2. Pennisetum. 

 Group 3. — Spikes one to many on a common peduncle, rhachis pro- 

 duced beyond the uppermost spikelet. 

 Genera: 1. Spartina; 2. Steuotaphrnm. 

 Group 4. — 



Anomalous genera : 1. Pharus. 



