236 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Phleum. L. 3. 2. 



P. pratense. L. Timothy Grass. Called by the English 

 Cat's-tail Grass, after the name of an unknown Greek plant, and 

 Timothy, after Timothy Hanson, says Loudon, who carried it to 

 England from New York in 1780. Indigenous to this country; it 

 has become a very important grass for culture, yielding a great 

 abundance of food for the cropping of horses and cattle till the 

 stalks rise, and then a great amount of hay ; excellent, especially 

 for horses. As a grass, it contains much nutriment, and is well 

 known, and not too highly valued. 



Phalaris. L. 3. 2. 



Said to be derived from the Greek for brilliant, on account of 

 its shining seeds. 



P. arundinacea. L. Ribbon-grass. Beautiful in its varie- 

 gated striped leaves, of which there is an endless variety, so that 

 no two leaves have been found alike. A native of Britain. 



P. Americana. Ell. Much resembles the preceding, grows 

 in wet situations, 3-5 feet high, in large cespitose aggregations, 

 often covering many square yards. Too hard a grass for food, 

 except when young. Scarcely differs from the preceding except 

 in the color of the leaves. 



P. canariensis. Canary Grass. From Britain ; cultivated, as 

 the Canary bird is very fond of its seed. It is a handsome grass 

 in the gardens. 



Anthoxanthum. L. 3. 2. 



A. odoratum. L. Sweet Vernal Grass. A common, but not 

 abundant grass in meadows and fields, growing in small tufts, very 

 pleasant in odor from the Benzoic acid in it. Cut in its young 

 state, it makes tolerable hay. 



Supposed to be introduced from Britain, and named from the 

 Greek for yellow flower, from the color of the spikes ; flowers in 

 June. 



One species is found in Morocco, and another in Spain. 



