A. Pennsylvanicum. Tor. Grows in the same situations as
Danthonia, in Berkshire County.
These grasses are not of great consequence.
C inna. L. 3. 2.
C. arundinacea. L. Reedy Grass. Named from the Greek
to burn or heat, from supposed effects of a plant upon cattle.
Loudon.
This is a slender, delicate grass, erect, lax, with lax branches
of flowers, in moist woods ; appears to be sought for by cattle ;
common, but not abundant; June.
A rundo. L. 3. 2. Reed Grass.
Derived, perhaps, from the Celtic for water. Loudon.
Glume 2-valved, beardless, unequal, naked ; paleae membranous,
2, with bristles at the base, lower one mucronate ; flowers in
spikelets.
A. Canadensis. Mx. Widely spread over wet grounds in
this State ; larger than the la s t; 3 —5 feet high, erect, stiff; in
its young state eaten by cattle.
A. coarctata. Tor. Grows about salt marshes.
A. phragmites. L. Common Reed. The specific name is
from the Greek for hedge or separation (Loudon), probably from
the use of i t ; common to Europe and this country. Grows
about ponds and in marshes, 6 - 1 0 feet high, large, with broad
and long leaves, and with a large, spreading panicle of flowers
and fruit, so as to resemble Indian corn at a distance. In Brazil,
the reeds grow from 30 — 60 feet high. The common Cane
fishing-pole, imported from France, Spain, Italy, &c., where it
grows in abundance, is A. donax.
P samma. P. de B. 3. 2.
P . arenaria. P. de B. Has been taken from Arundo ;
grows 2 — 4 feet high, of a sea-green color; leaves wide and
rather short; close, erect plant; found in the sands of the seashore,
where it sends out its thick hard roots forming a mat of
roots to resist the action of the waves, and the motion of the dry
sands, and becomes a very important article.
It is widely diffused over the world. In the Hebrides it is
formed into cc mats for pack-saddles, bags, hats,” &c. Lind. It
is from this grass that paper has been extensively manufactured at
Dorchester, and no little credit is due the enterprising manufacturer.
It is only wonderful that this grass, on account of its well
known strong fibres, bad not been long before so employed.
In England it is called mat-grass, and the Greek word for sand
gives it the generic name.
A ndropogon. L. 3. 2. Forked Grass.
From the Greek for man and beard, from the fancied resemblance
of the hairs on the flowers to the beard. Loudon.
A. furcatum. Muhl. Forked Spike. Forked Beard-Grass.
Grows in cespitose clusters, with the roots densely interwoven,
4 — 6 feet high, in sandy soil,. along hedges, and in alluvial
meadows.
The other species, A. macrourum, Mx., nutans, L ., Beard-
Grass, purpurascens, Muhl., Virginicum, L ., attract little attention
; little used as food for pattle. At the South, they are
numerous and abundant, and give to the fields the dry appearance,
so different from the green carpet of the North.
A ristida. L . 3. 2.
The 3 species of this genus, dichotoma, Mx., gracilis, Ell.,
purpurascens, Poir., have little interest.
S t ipa . L. 3. 2. Feather Grass.
Named from the Greek for silky or feathery. The 2 species,
avenacea, L ., Canadensis, Lmk., are not abundant.
T richochloa. DC. 3. 2.
From the Greek for hair and grass, Hair Grass.
T. capillaris. DC. A beautiful grass, taken from Stipa,
with flowers in a large panicle ; sandy woods ; Deerfield ; June.