Phleum
(from Phleos, an old Greek plant name used by Theophrastus). SYN. Stelephuros. ORD. Gramineae. A genus comprising about half-a-score species of hardy, annual or perennial, erect grasses, natives of Europe, Central and North Asia, North Africa, and North and Antarctic America. Panicle rather long, pedunculate, always densely spike-formed, sometimes elongated, narrow-cylindrical, sometimes shorter, oblong or scarcely ovoid, often pubescent; spikelets one-flowered, with rarely a rudimentary second flower; glumes three; stamens three. P. alpinum, P. arenarium, P. phalaroides (P. Boehmeri), and P. pratense (Cat's Tail, or Timothy Grass), are natives of Britain. The species have no horticultural value.