PHALAEIS 



GBASS OBDEB 



STiPA 963 



Cornwall, and the south of Ireland, 

 this fine Grass is perhaps scarcely hardy 

 enough to stand a British winter of any 

 severity. The rootstocks may be lifted in 

 autumn and stored away in cool places 

 free from frost like Dahlias, and replanted 

 in spring. Seeds may also be sown in 

 heat in spring, the seedlings being planted 

 out in June. If sown in autumn, the 

 young plants require protection till 

 spring. 



P. longistylutn. — An elegant Abyssi- 

 nian perennial 12-18 in. high, with tufts 

 of linear lance-shaped gracefully arching 

 leaves, and slender stems ending in spikes 

 4-6 in. long, remarkable for their singular 

 twisted appearance, and enveloped in a 

 whitish feathery down. The variety 

 violaceum is readily recognised by its 

 purplish plumes, but the plant is otherwise 

 similar to the white type. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species grows freely in ordinary good soil 

 and makes a handsome plant in the border 

 or grouped in the grass. The plumes if 

 out before fully ripe last a long time in a 

 dried state and are useful for decorative 

 work. Although really a perennial this 

 species is usually treated as an annual. 

 Seeds are sown in a hotbed in March, and 

 the young plants transferred to the open 

 ground in June or the end of May. They 

 are at their best from the end of July until 

 the frost strikes them down In Septem- 

 ber the tufts may be lifted and potted, 

 and wintered under glass until next 

 planting season. 



PHALARIS arundinacea (Dia- 

 gr aphis arundinacea). — A beautiful Brit- 

 ish perennial Grass 3-8 ft. high, inhabiting 

 the sides of rivers, lakes, and marshy 

 ground. It has creeping rootstocks, flat 

 leaves, and elongated panicles of purplish 

 spikelets. Grown by the sides of ponds 

 and streams in masses, this species looks 

 very handsome when its purplish spikes 

 are swaying in the breeze. Increased by 

 division. The variety variegata, known 

 as ' Gardener's Garters ' and ' Ribbon 

 Grass,' has the green leaves striped with 

 rosy-white when young, and yellow when 

 old. It does not grow so tall as the green 

 form, but requires similar moist or marshy 

 positions. It will, however, flourish in 

 moist parts of the flower border or shrub- 

 bery, but likes plenty of sunshine. In a 

 cut state the leaves and flower stems are 

 valuable for decorations. P. ca/nariensis 



from S. Europe and N. Africa supplies the 

 ' Canary Seed ' so much used for singing 

 birds. 



POA (Meadow Geass). — Few species 

 belonging to this large genus have any 

 garden value. P. pahistria (P. fertilis) 

 is one of the best. It is a native of 

 S. Europe, and forms dense tufts of long 

 soft slender arching leaves, from which 

 arise in the summer months light airy 

 spreading panicles of a purple or violet 

 colour, borne on slender stems 2-3 ft. 

 high. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — It is a 

 good plant for the sides of streams or 

 lakes, or in moist soil in the border, or 

 on grass, and may be increased by seeds 

 or division. 



P. aquatica (or Glyceria aquatica) is 

 a vigorous native Grass, inhabiting watery 

 and marshy places. It has stout creeping 

 rootstocks, and grows 2-6 ft. high, with 

 flat somewhat erect leaves 1-2 ft. long, 

 and much-branched panicles 6-12 in. long 

 composed of oblong yellowish-green and 

 purple spikelets. 



Culture and Propagation. — It may 

 be massed at the edges of pieces of water, 

 streams, lakes &o. and increased by divi- 

 sion in autumn or spring. 



P. trivialis albo-vittata. — A beautiful 

 dwarf form of a very common native 

 perennial Grass. It grows about 6 in. 

 high, forming dense tufts of erect flattish 

 green leaves broadly edged with pure 

 white. 



Culture dc. as above. It is useful for 

 edging beds and borders, and may be in- 

 creased by division in autumn or spring. 



STIPA (Fbathbe Grass). — This 

 genus contains nearly 100 species, but the 

 most popular is S. pennata, a native of 

 S. Europe. It grows in strong tufts like 

 ordinary grass, but in early summer the 

 gracefully arching flower stems about 2 

 ft. high appear and give it a wonderful 

 striking appearance, caused by the long 

 feathery bristles, twisted beyond half their 

 length, which issue from each silky grain 

 enclosed by the scales or glumes. These 

 bristly barbs float about the air when 

 detached, carrying the attached seeds at 

 the base forming a kind of anchor. 



Culture am,d Propagation. — Grown in 

 large tufts in the border or on grass 

 land, the Feather Grass is a very attrac- 

 tive and curious plant. It flourishes in 



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