574- ORDER CXLTI. GRAMINACE^J. 



Genus VI— PHLE'UM. L. Herds-grass. 

 (An ancient Greek name.) 



Glumes 2, equal, mucronate, longer than the palese. Palece 

 2, included in the glume, truncate, boat-shaped, without awns. 

 Flowers in dense, cylindrical spikes. 



1. P. praten'se, (L.) Stem erect, glabrous, simple, Leaves flat, lin- 

 ear-lanceolate ; sheaths longer than the joints. Glumes equal, hairy, 

 ciliate. Palece smaller than the glumes.— -2(. June — July. Intro- 

 duced into the Southern States. 2 — 3 feet. Herds-grass. 



Genus VIL— PHALA'FJS. L. (Canary-grass.) 

 (From phalon, shining, alluding to the grain.) 



Glumes 2, nearly equal, membranaceous, keeled, 1 -flowered. 

 Palece 2, coriaceous, pubescent at the base, shorter than the 

 glumes. Scales 2, opposite, ovate, lanceolate. Flowers in 

 compound spikes. 



1. P. arundina'cea, (L.) Panicle clustered, spreading when old. 

 Glumes obtusely keeled, with pointed tips ; rudimentary flowers hairy, 

 much shorter than the fertile ones. — Wet places. July. 2 — 4 feet. 



The ribbon-grass of the gardens is a variety of this species. 



2. P. Ameeica'na, (Ell.) Stem erect, branching, scabrous near the 

 summit, geniculate near the base. Leaves glabrous ; sheath shorter 

 than the joints. Style 1, bifid. — If. July — Aug. Swamps. 2 — 5 ft. 



Calamagrostis Americana. American Canary-grass. 



Genus VIII— ANTHOXAN'THUM. L. (Vernal-grass.) 

 (From anthos, flower, and anthon, of flowers: flower of flowers.) 



Glumes 2 — 3-flowered ; lateral florets imperfect, with one 

 palese bearded ; intermediate florets perfect, shorter than the 

 lateral ones. Palece obtuse. Stamens 2. Styles 2. Panicle 

 contracted. 



1. A. odora'tum, (L.) Stem erect, scabrous at the summit. Leaves 

 linear, hairy ; sheath striate, pubescent at the throat. Flowers in ap- 

 pressed panicles. Glumes acute, membranaceous, hairy, the interior 

 one twice as long as the other. Palece equal, villous, with an awn at 

 the base of each. Styles 2, filiform. — 11. May — June. Common in 

 the low country. Introduced. 12 — 15 inches. 



Sweet-scented Vernal-grass. 



Tribe III.— PANI'CE^E. 

 Spikelets 2-flowered ; inferior flowers incomplete. 



Genus IX.— PAS'PALUM. L. 

 (The Greek name for Millet.) 



Glumes 2, 1-flowered, membranaceous, equal. Palece 2, 



