P hleum. L. 3. 2.
P. pratense. L. Timothy Grass. Called by the English
Cat’s-tail Grass, after the name of an unknown Greek plant, and
Timothy, after Timothy Hanson, says Loudon, who carried it to
England from New York in 1780. Indigenous to this country ; it
has become a very important grass for culture, yielding a great
abundance of food for the cropping of horses and cattle till the
stalks rise, and then a great amount of hay ; excellent, especially
for horses. As a grass, it contains much nutriment, and is well
known, and not too highly valued.
P halaris. L. 3. 2.
Said to be derived from the Greek for brilliant, on account of
its shining seeds.
P. arundinacea. L. Ribbon-grass. Beautiful in its variegated
striped leaves, of which there is an endless variety, so that
no two leaves have been found alike. A native of Britain.
P . Americana. Ell. Much resembles the preceding, grows
in wet situations, 3 - 5 feet high, in large cespitose aggregations,
often covering many square yards. Too hard a grass for food,
except when young. Scarcely differs from the preceding except
in the color of the leaves.
P . canariensis. Canary Grass. From Britain ; cultivated, as
the Canary bird is very fond of its seed. It is a handsome grass
in the gardens.
Anthoxanthum. L. 3. 2.
A. odoratum. L. Sweet Vernal Grass. A common, but not
abundant grass in meadows and fields, growing in small tufts, very
pleasant in odor from the Benzoic acid in it. Cut in its young
state, it makes tolerable hay.
Supposed to be introduced from Britain, and named from the
Greek for yellow flower, from the color of the spikes ; flowers in
June.
One species is found in Morocco, and another in Spain.
A vena. L. 3. 2. Oat.
Origin of the name uncertain ; perhaps from the Celtic, to eat.
Loudon.
A. sativa. L. The common Oat, so valuable for food for
horses and other animals, and forming the material for bread
among so many people in the North of Europe, and for some
other preparations for food. “ Fourteen pounds of grain yield
eight pounds of meal.” Loudon. Several varieties are cultivated.
One, whose flower-stalks are less diffuse, and somewhat
twisted, bearing a greener colored fruit, is thought to yield very
abundantly. In Europe some other species are cultivated as food
for horses.
A. sterilis. L. Animal Oat. Cultivated in gardens as a
curiosity, as its spikes with their long awns are sensitive to
changes in the moisture of the air. Placed in the hand, they
creep about, having a remote resemblance to some animal. From
Barbary, and quite singular in this hygrométrie property.
A. flavescens. L. Yellow Oat Grass. Recently introduced.
A. mollis. Mx. Wild Oat. A small grass of no considerable
importance, found in open woods, and along hedges ;
flowers in June.
D anthonia. D C . 3. 2.
D. spicata. DC. Wild Oats. Named after the French
botanist, Danthoine. Loudon. Taken from Avena ; is common
in pastures and open woods, a foot high or more ; has some resemblance
to the common Oat, though its flowers are much more
compact ; eaten well by cattle, but commonly grows rather
sparsely.
A r rhenatherum. P. de B. Tall Oat-Grass.
A. avenaceum. P. de B. A tall grass, introduced from
Europe, and naturalized in some places. B ig . Taken from
Avena.