THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 53 



short stalks, one or two at the base of each perfect flower, which is ses- 

 sile or without a stalk. At or near maturity the sterih:^ flowers drop 

 off, leaving still remaining the short stem or stems on which they were 

 borne. The perfect spikelethas two outer glumes, which are tough and 

 leathery, and two thin transparent inner ones, one of which is two- 

 lobed at the apex, and between the lobes extended into a short, rigid, 

 bent and twisted awn or beard. Stamens, three stigmas, plumose. The 

 sterile spikelets are narrower, the outer glumes without the leathery text- 

 ure, nerved longitudinally, the two inner ones thin and delicate, desti- 

 tute of the awn and containing three stamens or empty. 



* Phalaris. 



This genus is defined as having spikelets with one perfect flower and 

 one or two rudimentary flowers, or mere sterile pedicels, within the 

 outer glumes and below the proper flower. 



The outer glumes are comxHessed and boat-shaped, acute, strongly 

 keeled, becoming coriaceous or cartilagiuous. The inner or true flower 

 consists of two thin glumes, sometiDies called palets, inclosing the sta- 

 mens and pistils. No proper palet present. 



Phalaris arundinacea. (Reed canary grass.) 



A perennial, grass with strong creeping rhizomas, growing from 2 to 

 5 feet high, usually in low or wet ground. It ranges from l^ew England 

 and ^ew York westward to Oregon, and northward to Canada, also in 

 the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is common, 

 also, in the north of Europe. The culm is stout, smooth, and leafy; the 

 leaves are mostly from 6 to 1.0 inches long, and about half an inch wide, 

 the upper ones shorter. The ligule is about two lines long, rounded or 

 obtuse. The panicle is from 2 to 4 inches long, narrow and spike-like ; 

 the branches short and crowded above, rather distant below,, slightly 

 spreading when in flower. The spikelets are three lines long; the outer 

 glumes nearly equal, nearly smooth, boat-shaped, oblong-lanceolate, 

 acute, tliree to five nerved, the keel scabrous and slightly thickened 

 near the apex. The flowering glumes are one-third shorter, ovate, 

 thick, somewhat hairy externally. The two sterile pedicels are about 

 one-third as long as the flowering glumes and feathered. 



The stout stems bear Ave or six leaves, which are 6 to 8 inches long, 

 and a quarter to a half inch wide, smoothish except on the edge, striate 

 and pointed. The ligule is conspicuous, thin, and rounded. This grass 

 is said to be extensively used for fodder in Sweden, and is liked by 

 cattle. Mr. J. S. Gould says of it : 



In tlie province of Scania it is mown twice a year. The peasantry there use it as a 

 thatch for their cottages and hayvstacks and find it is more durable than straw. It 

 is very certain thkt cattle in our country do not relish it either as pastuie or hay, and 

 they will not touch it as long as they can get anything better. Wljen cut very young, 

 say when about 1 foot high, and used for soiling, cattle eat it better than any 

 other way. 



