388 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



ated at apex, glaucous, scabrous on the margin ; sheaths closelj'- embracing the culm, 

 smooth ; ligule very short, pilose or fimbriate. Panicle terminal, large, — the branches 

 smoothish, long, slender, semi-verticillate, with a tuft of soft hairs at base. SpUcelets 

 lance-linear, erect, pedunculate, Z-ib- (mostlj- 3-) flowered. Lowest floret staminate, ses- 

 sile, naked at base ; upper florets pedicellate,— the pediceZs finally clothed with long white 

 silky hairs which are nearly as long as the florets (these hairs scarcely perceptible ou the 

 young panicle). PaZece very unequal, — the lower one with a long slender acumination, 

 which is involute, resembling an awn. 

 Margins of swamps and swampy streams. Fl. August. Fr. September. 



Obs. This grass appears to be indigenous in both hemispheres. It 

 possesses but little agricultural interest ; jet, being so remarkably large 

 (rivalling Indian Corn in size) , I have concluded to give it a place here. 



17. ARUNDINA'RIA, Mx. Cane. 



[Name formed from Arundo, a reed.] 



Spikelets compressed, 5 - 14-flowered ; florets somewhat separated on the 

 jointed rachis. Glumes membranaceous, very small, the lower one 

 smaller than the upper. PalecB herbaceous, or somewhat membranaceous ; 

 the lower convex on the back, not keeled, mucronate or bristle-pointed. 

 Scales 3, longer than the ovary. Stamens 3. Grain oblong, free. Tall 

 arborescent or shrubby grasses, simple or fasciculately branched ; spike- 

 lets in panicles or racemes, polygamous. 



1. A. macrosper'ma, Mx. Leaves linear-lanceolate, pubescent beneath ; 

 panicle simple ; spikelets few, very large. 



Long or Large-seeded Arundinaria. Cane. 



Root perennial, csespitose (creeping rhizomas). Culm 3-15 feet high (30 feet or more 

 in the gigantic varietj^), terete, glabrous, fistular, rigid, branching towards the summit, — 

 the branches distichous. Leaves distichous, lanceolate, large, flat, slightlj^ acuminate, pubes- 

 cent on the under surface ; sheaths much longer than the internodes, marcescent, — the 

 ihroat contracted ; ligule bristly. Panicle simple, — the peduncles about an iiich long, 

 pubescent. Spikelets 1 - 3 inches in length. 



Rich, occasionally inundated, soils : South-Wcstern States. Fl. March -April. Fr. 



Obs. Having only seen the small variety of this species, as it grows in 

 the vicinity of the Dismal Swamp, Virginia, — I cannot speak, from per- 

 sonal observation, of the arborescent variety which forms the celebrated 

 Cane brakes of the Mississippi region. Although this remarkable grass 

 has but little connection with Agriculture, I have supposed it might be 

 entitled to a brief notice ; for which I am indebted to Mr. Elliott's 

 valuable sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia. The 

 culms of this species are well known from their common use as angling 

 rods. 



18. LO'LIUM, L. Darnel. 



[The ancient Latin name.] 



Spikelets many-flowered, solitary on each joint of the continuous rachis. 

 the edge of the spikelets placed towards the rachis. Glumes (except at 



