feathery stigmas ; stem or culm cylindrical, hollow, except at
the joints ; leaves alternate, with a divided or split sheath.
Of the plants of this order, 121 species, under 46 genera, are
credited to Massachusetts in the “ Geology” of the State, by
Professor Hitchcock. These are more than one third of all the
grasses then known to be growing in North America. The original
genera of the grasses have been greatly cut up and divided,
partly from a more careful examination of the characters and
habits of the plants, and in part from imaginary, or unessential, or
artificial characters. The species credited to this State are
correct, and few published additions have been made to them.
Many of the cultivated grasses, however, were not introduced into
the Catalogue in the “ Geology.”
A grostis. L. 3. 2. Bent-grass.
Glume naked, 2-valved, 1-flowered, with the valves longer
than the 2 membranous palese or interior chaff, which enclose a
single seed.
Named from the Greek for' field, and hence applied by the
Greeks to most grasses, on account of the place of growth.
A. vulgaris. L. The well-known Red-top.
A. alba. L. The White-top Grass. This and the preceding
have been introduced from Europe ; but the former is spread over
hill and dale, in pastures and meadows, being one of those most
extensively diffused. The fine green sward or turf of New England,
is greatly composed of this grass, as it forms the beautiful
green carpet spread in spring and autumn over the alluvial
meadows. The White-top is far less abundant than the other.
Both are to be added to the 10 species in the “ Geology.” The
former grows with great closeness, so that it yields a large swath
in the meadows, though it is not a tall grass. It throws out abundance
of leaves from the roots and along the lower part of the
culm, and forms an excellent hay for cattle, but is too fine a grass
for horses. It is often called English Grass>
The Fiorin Grass, so highly commended in Ireland, seems to
be only a variety of A. alba. In England, it has not -succeeded
according to the expectations excited by its praises. Indeed,
A. vulgaris does not appear to be a grass so highly valued in England
as in this country.
The 10 species of the “ Geology,” are far less abundant than
these 2, which are valuable for pasturage.
Agrostis stolonifera, Fiorin Grass, is recently introduced.
A. polymorpha. Huds. Fiorin Grass. A variety of A. alba,
and the same as A. decumbens, Muhl., according to Torrey.
A. lateriflora. Mx. Grows % feet high or more, with swelling
knots or joihts, branching, with lateral and terminal panicles
of rather dense flowers.
A. sobolifera, Muhl., which is much like the preceding, is
probably to be added as one of our grasses about fields and borders.
A. longifolia. Torrey. Is 2 - 4 feet high, erect, simple,
with leaves often 2 feet long, tapering into a fine extremity ; sheath
smooth ; panicle terminal and lateral, with compressed flowers.
Deerfield..
A. sylvatica. Torrey. Is 2 - 3 feet high, erect,. branched
and diffuse, with a slender filiform panicle ; glumes shorter than
the paleae, with awns longer than the flower. Hills of Berkshire
County. While it resembles A. lateriflora, and is A. diffusa,
Muhl., it is chiefly to be noticed for its spreading branches. The
other species are A. canina, W., clandestina, Spreng., tenuiflora,
Willd., Virginica, L.
P olypogon. Des. 3. 2.
Taken from Agrostis, and named from the Greek for many
beards ; as the glumes and the lower paleas terminate in a bristle.
P. glomeratus. W. Has an erect, compressed stem, and
close or not. spreading branches, and a panicle, dense, interrupted,
and conglomerated ; bog meadows ; August and September.