. The classification of flowering plants. Plants. 238 FLOWERING PLANTS [CH. in all warm countries, but, like Paspalum, is a characteristic South American savanna-grass. In the closely allied Digitaria, sometimes regarded as a section of Panicum^ the lowest barren glume is reduced to a point: one species {D. glab7'a) is a rare grass in the south-east of England. Setaria viridis is a doubtful native in Britain; in this and allied genera the spikelet is subtended by an involucre of bristles or spines representing sterile branches of the inflorescence. In Cenchrus the bristles are rigid, thickened
. The classification of flowering plants. Plants. 238 FLOWERING PLANTS [CH. in all warm countries, but, like Paspalum, is a characteristic South American savanna-grass. In the closely allied Digitaria, sometimes regarded as a section of Panicum^ the lowest barren glume is reduced to a point: one species {D. glab7'a) is a rare grass in the south-east of England. Setaria viridis is a doubtful native in Britain; in this and allied genera the spikelet is subtended by an involucre of bristles or spines representing sterile branches of the inflorescence. In Cenchrus the bristles are rigid, thickened, and often grown together at the base, and fall oflf at maturity with the spikelets. C. tribiiloides is a troublesome weed in North America ; the involucre clings in the wool of sheep and is removed with great difficulty. Setaria italica (Hungarian Grass) has been cultivated as a food-grain from prehistoric times. Tribe 4. Oryzeae. About 15 genera, mainly tropical. The spikelets are sometimes unisexual, and there are fre- quently (as in Oryza) six sta- mens (fig. 103, A, B). Leersia oryzoides is a rare grass in marsh - districts in Surrey, Sussex and Hants. Zizania aquatica (Indian rice), a reed-like grass with mon- oecious flowers, which grows over large areas on the banks of streams and lakes in North America and north-east Asia; the grain is collected for food. Oryza sativa (Rice), a marsh- plant and a native of India and tropical Australia, is now wide- ly cultivated throughout the warmer parts of the earth, and as far north as southern Europe (Lombardy). Tribe 5. Phalarideae. 6 genera, widely distributed. Three are British, namely Phalaris arundinacea, the Reed-grass : Anthoxanthum odoratum^ Sweet Vernal Grass, which has no lodicules and only two stamens (fig. Ill); it owes its fragrance to the presence of coumarin: and Hierochloe horealis, an arctic and alpine grass found in Caithness. Tribe 6. Agrostideae. About 35 genera, in all parts of the world ; 11 are British (ind
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectplants, bookyear1904
