THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
197 
(where glumes are present) has two, are usually dissimilar, and are 
called glumellas ; on the outer one is produced the awn or bristle 
which characterizes the flowers of some of the grasses. Every sepa- 
rate group of flowers forms what is called a spikelet, and every 
aggregate of spikelets constitutes the spike or panicle. 
There are forty-four genera of British grasses and about one 
hundred and twenty species. Yery many are so nearly alike that 
no begiuner could hope to distinguish them even were they to be 
met with in his earliest rambles, but the beginner may, nevertheless, 
find a great many and very quickly understand them sufficiently to 
hunger for knowledge of more. 
The sweet-scented Yerual-grass, Anihoxanihum odoratum , is one 
of the most abuudant and useful of the family, contributing largely 
both to the fragrance and nourishing properties of good hay. It 
flowers as early as April, and produces ripe seeds in June. It forms 
what may be called a quite common-looking panicle of a pale dingy- 
green colour, from every flower of which two stamens protrude in a 
very characteristic manner. The Fox-tail grasses have close dense 
spikes, which may be likened to tails, though not of foxes. The 
commonest of them is the Meadow Fox-tail, Alopecurus pratensis, 
which may be found in almost every good pasture. The Canary 
grass, Phalaris canarienris, may often be found on rubbish heaps, 
whither it has been conveyed in the emptyings of a bird-cage. The 
panicle is large and almost globose, of a pale straw colour. The 
Reed Canary grass, P. arundinacea, produces a loose spike, and the 
plant is extremely robust, growing usually by the sides of rivers. The 
common variegated grass of our gardens, the “ gardener’s garters ” 
or “ ribbon grass,” is a variety of this native water grass, and its 
flowers therefore may serve to aid in the identification of the species 
when met with. The Mat-weed or Sea Reed, Ammophila arundi- 
nacea, may be seen on the sea coast in great masses binding drifting 
sands, and thus preventing the dreadful injury they might inflict 
FIXE BENT GBA.S3. 
SPBEADIXG SILKY BENT GEA33 
July. 
