HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



70a. Leaf blades 2 — 7 mm. wide, firm; culms usually 1 m. or less tall. 

 Fig. 104. 



Glyceria striata (Lam.) Hitch. 



Perennial; forming large clumps; plants 30 

 — 100 cm. tall; foliage glabrous; leaf blades 

 flat or folded; panicles drooping, pyramidal, 

 10 — 20 cm. long; spikelets 3 — 4 mm. long, 

 usually with 3 — 7 florets, often purphsh. The 

 spikelets shatter very readily when ripe. 

 This is the most common and widespread 

 of the American species of Glyceria. Usual- 

 ly one will find a colony of it around every 

 pond, runnel, or ditch, and it may also grow 

 in moist woods. The plants provide good 

 forage for domestic livestock and elk, espe- 

 cially in later summer when the growth sites 

 are drier. Sea level to 3300 m. elevation. 

 May — August. 



Figure 104 



70b. Leaf blades 6 — 12 mm. wide, soft; culms usually 1 — 3 m. tall. Fig. 

 105. 



Glyceria elaia (Nash) Hitch. 



Perennial; tufted; dark green; tall and 

 stout, with spongy culms; panicles oblong, 

 15 — 30 cm. long, with spreading or droop- 

 ing branches; foHage glabrous; leaf blades 

 soft and thin; spikelets 4 — 6 mm. long, 

 with 6 — 8 florets. This species looks Hke 

 a larger version of the previous one, but 

 it is restricted to the western states, where 

 it is the most common and valuable forage 

 species of the genus. Wet meadows, 

 ponds, and moist woodlands. Eaten by 

 all domestic livestock and elk; grazed pri- 

 marily in late season when the herbage 

 is less succulent and the habitats where 

 it grows are less boggy. June — July. 



56 



Figure 105 



