GENERA OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
203 
crisis, P. phleoides, P. arundinacea, P. erucaeformis, and P. oryisoides. The 
second species is now referred to Phleum, the fourth to Beckmannia, and 
the fifth to Homalocenchrus. The first species is chosen as the type, be- 
cause this is the one that best corresponds to the description of the geuus 
in the Genera Plantarum 
(e. g., gluma obtusa) and 
is moreover the only one 
of the five species men- 
tioned above that was 
known by the name of 
Phalaris to the older au- 
thors, such as Bauhin. 
Typhoides Moench, 
Meth. 201. 1794. A single 
species, T. arundinacea, 
based on Phalaris arundi- 
nacea L., is included. 
Digraphis Trin., Fund. 
Agrost. 127. 1820. A 
single species, D. arundi- 
nacea, based on Phalaris 
arundinacea L., is in- 
cluded. 
Endallax Raf., Bull. Bot. Seringe 
1: 220. 1830. Phalaris arundinacea 
is the only species given. 
The most important species of 
the genus in the United States is 
Phalaris arundinacea L., reed 
canary grass, a native perennial 
found in wet ground in the 
cooler parts of the Northern 
Hemisphere. The inflorescence 
is a rather loose spikelike panicle 
2 to 6 inches long. It is an im- 
portant constituent of lowland 
hay in the region from Mon- 
tana to Wisconsin. A vari- 
ety (picta L.) with blades 
striped with white is grown for 
ornament in gardens under the name of ribbon grass or gardener's 
garters. 
Fig. 121. — Canary grass, 
canariensis. Plant, 
and fertile floret with 
sterile lemmas, X 5. 
