GRAMINA. 
21 
swollen at the base, leafy for tlirce-quartcrs of their length. Panicle 
very dense, spikelike, ovate-ovoid or oblong-ovoid. Spikelets persistent. 
Glumes half-elliptical, wliite, with a green band at tlie origin of tlie keel, 
and another parallel to tiie inner margin over the 1 or 2 ribs; Av^iiig 
of tlie keel commencing near the base and terminating at the apex, 
Ijroadest about one-fourth from the apex, where it is more than half 
the width of the glume, white, finely serrulate on tlie margin. 
Barren florets linear, half as long as the fertile flower, ciliated. 
In waste places near towns, and the borders of fields where it has 
been cultivated; indeed, were it not for cultivation, cleaning of bird- 
cages, and professional bird-catching, the plant would no doubt dis- 
appear from Britain, so it has little claim to be considered as a pro- 
perly naturalised plant. 
[England, Scotland, Ireland.] Annual. Late Summer, Autumn. 
Stems 1 to 3 feet high. Leaves 3 to 6 inches long by _| to incli 
broad, the uppermost sheath greatly swollen and forming a spat he in 
Avhich the young panicle is included, but ultimately the panicle is 
exscrted for about twice the length of the uppei*most sheath. Pardcle 
1 to 2 inches long by about f inch broad. Spikelets | inch long. 
Pales a little shorter than the glumes, at first green, idtimately 
shining, coriaceous, and light brown, closely investing the seed, and 
in this state constituting the "canary seed" so much used by bird- 
tanciers, for which the plant is cultivated as a crop in many places in 
the south of England, especially in Kent. 
Ccmm'!/-Grass. 
Tribe \\— PHLEIXE J:. 
Spikelets closed during flowering, arranged in a <li'ii>e cylindrioal 
or ovoid spikehke panicle, not luiilateral, laterally compresbcd, each 
containing a single perfect floret, rarely with the rudiment of one 
reduced to :i ' ' ' - > .• ' ^ ' ^- as the 
