I'lIK (iUA.SHKK OK TKNNKSSKK. \i.i 



free. Tall and reed-like grasses, with hollow culms, broad, Hat 

 leaves and ample terminal panicles. 



Species six or seven, distributed throuj^hout the warmer coun- 

 tries of the world. No native species in America north of Mexico. 

 One is thrown in Tennessee as a decorative plant. 



I. Arundo Donax Linn. 



A tall and stout leafy perennial eii^lu to twelve feet high, with 

 large terminal paniclesone to two feet long. Leaves spreading, one 

 to two feet long, two to three inches wide, lanceolate and long 

 attenuate-pointed. Spikelets two- to four-dowered. F'lowering 

 glumes long- pilose on the back, lanceolate, acuminate-pointed 

 with the apex trifid, the middle division extended into a short 

 straight awn. 



A native of southern I'>urope and Northern Africa. Apparently 

 indigenous in southwestern Texas. Cultivated for ornament in 

 Tennessee. There is an ornamental variety with the leaves striped 

 with white bands. 



44. PHRAGMITES Trin. Fund. Agrost. 134. (1820.) 



Spikelets loosely three- to seven-flowered, in teiminal panicles; 

 rachilla articulated above the empty glumes and between the 

 florets, clothed with long, silky hairs; the lowest floret staminate 

 or neuter, those above hermaphrodite. Empty glumes unequal, 

 lanceolate, acute, shorter than the florets. Flowering glume gla- 

 brous, very narrow and long acuminate-pointed, much exceeding 

 the short palea Grain free. Tall, reed like perennial grasses 

 with stout leafy culms and large terminal panicles. 



Species two or three, one cosmopalitan, one in Asia and one in 

 South America. 



I. Phragmites communis Trin. Reed. 



Culm six to twelve feet high, with numerous broad (one to two 

 inches) attenuate-pointed leaves one to two feet long. Panicle 

 much branched, ovoid-pyramidal. Spikelets three- to five-flowered, 

 the copious wool on the rachillas about the length of the florets. 

 Swamps and borders of laj^es and streams. August. 



Not yet reported as growing within the limits of the State. Of 

 no recognized agricultural value. 



45. TRIODIA R. Br. Prod. 1S2. {1810.) 



Spikelets three- to twelve-flowered, nearly terete, in strict or 

 open panicles, rachilla articulated between the florets, smooth or 

 short-pilose, florets hermaphrodite or the uppermost staminate. 

 Empty glumes two, unequal, somewhat keeled, shorter than the 

 spikelet. Flowering glumes membranaceous or subcoriaceous, 

 rounded on the back at least below, three-nerved, two- to three- 

 toothed or pointed, the nerves, especially the marginal, silky-villous 

 below and extending (in our species) between the teeth at the apex 



