546 THE GRASS FAMILY. 
A small genus, chiefly south European and west Asiatic, cunaleay 
from Poa in the inflorescence, and in most species by the presence of 
an outer bract under the spikelets, which is analogous to those of 
Cyperacece. 
1. S. cserulea, Ard. (fig. 1257). ‘Blak S.—A perennial, é'tnoHe to 
nearly a foot high, with a shortly creeping rootstock, and densely | 
tufted, short, and rather stiff merase leaves. Spike (or spike-like 
panicle) ovoid or oblong, 4 to # inch long, often assuming a bluish- 
grey hue. Spikelets not numerous, but closely packed, generally in 
pairs, one sessile, the other shortly stalked ; the lower ones with a 
broad, glume-like bract at their base. Glumes about 2 lines long, the 
flowering ones usually 2 in each spikelet, shortly protruding beyond 
the outer ones, their central tooth forming a short point. 
In mountain pastures, especially in limestone districts, in Europe, 
and from the mountains of Spain and Italy to Scandinavia. In Britain, 
confined to Scotland, the north of England, and the north and west of 
Ireland. Fl. spring and early sume. 
reese 
> XULIL ARUNDO. REED. 
- Very tall, erect, perennial Grasses, with long, broad leaves, and a 
large, crowded panicle. Spikelets | several- flowered, with long, silky 
hairs on the axis, enveloping the flowers, 
The species, though not numerous, are very conspicuous in all tem- 
perate and warm climates, and form a natural genus if considered as 
including, as well as our ‘northern species (often separated under the 
name of Phragmites), the South American Pampas Grass, the latter 
generically distinguished under the name of Gynervum, on account of 
its flowers being usually (but, it is said, not always) dicecious. The 
‘genus differs from Psamma and Calamagrostis chiefly in having more 
than one flower in the spikelet. | 
1. A. Phragmites (fig. 1258). Common R&.—A._ stout perennial, 
usually 5 or 6 feet high, but sometimes twice as much, with a long, 
creeping rootstock, and numerous long leaves, often an inch broad, all 
the way up the stem. Panicle from a few inches to a foot long, with 
numerous branches, more or less drooping, of a purplish-brown colour. 
Spikelets very numerous, narrow, above 6 lines long. Outermost 
elume lanceolate, concave, about 14 lines long, and empty ; the second 
narrower, and twice that length ; the third still longer, and also empty, 
or with 1 or 2 stamens only ; and all 3 without hairs outside. Above — 
are 2 or 3 flowering glumes about the same length, but narrower, 
ending in an almost awn-like point, and surrounded by silky hairs, 
which lengthen much as the seed ripens, giving the panicle a a 
appearance. Phragmites communis, Trin. 
In wet ditches, marshes, and shallow waters, almost all over the 
world, from the tropics to the Arctic zone. Common in Britain, Fl. 
end of summer, and autumn. 6 Oe | 
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