THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 55 



little remote from each other. The lower flower is perfect, but the 

 upper one is staminate only and has a stout bent awn below the 

 apex. 



62. Holcus lanatus, Linneus. 



Ilot'-cus lan-a'-lus. 

 PLATE XXXH. 



Common Names. Velvet Grass, Meadow Soft Grass, Velvet 

 Mesquite Grass. 



Perennial. Stems from one to three feet high, the whole plant 

 clothed with a soft whitish down. 



Found occasionally in fields with other grasses. Flowers in July. 

 This is regarded as an undesirable grass, and should be kept out. 

 An analysis made of it in Washington gave ash 8.23, fat 3.89, 

 nitrogen-free extract 55.52, crude fiber 25.01, albuminoids 7.35. 



Genus Hierochloa, Gruelin. 



Ht-e-roch'-lo-a. 



From the Greek, hieros, sacred, and chloa, grass, because it is 

 ust d in certain religious festivals in Germany. 



Spikelets three-flowered, the two lower flowers staminate, and 

 having three stamens, mostly awned ; the upper flower perfect but 

 having only two stamens, and without awns. Smooth perennial 

 grasses having the odor of vanilla. 



63. Hierochloa borealis, R. and S. 



Hi-e-roclt -lo-a bo-re-a- lis. 

 PLATE XXXIII. 



Common Names. Vanilla Grass, Seneca Grass, Holy Grass. 



Stems simple, erect, from twelve to eighteen inches high ; leaves 

 smooth and shining, the lower ones very long, while those of the 

 stem are short. Panicle somewhat one-sided, pyramidal, from two 

 to live inches long : peduncles smooth ; perfect flower pointless, 

 staminate flowers slightly awned, spikelets chestnut colored. Grows 

 in wet lands, and flowers in June. 



This grass is remarkably sweet-scented and is used by the Penob- 

 scot Indians, in the manufacture of baskets, but does not appear to 

 be of any value as a fodder. 



