HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



73b. Panicle dense, short, the branches bearing spikelets to their bases; 

 plants of the Atlantic Coast. Fig. 108. 



PuccinelUa iasciculata (Torr.) Bickn. 



Perennial; tufted; plants 20 — 50 cm. 

 tall; panicles 5 — 15 cm. long, stiff. Leaf 

 blades flat, folded, or rolled, 2 — 4 mm. 

 wide. The species of Puccinellia grow 

 on salty or alkaline wet soil. The lem- 

 mas frequently have handsome purplish, 

 bronzy, or golden bands below the apex. 

 This species occurs in salt marshes 

 along the Atlantic Coast. June — ? 



Figure 108 



74a. Lower panicle branches bent downward; lemmas blunt, broadest 

 near the apex. Fig. 109. 



Puccinellia distans (L.) Pari. 



Perennial; tufted; culms erect or 

 decumbent, 20 — 50 cm. tall; panicle 

 5 — 15 cm. long. The stiffish, droop- 

 ing lower panicle branches are char- 

 acteristic. Leaf blades flat or rolled, 

 usually 2 — 4 mm. wide. Moist soil. 

 Introduced from Europe but now 

 widespread in the United States. June 

 — August. 



Figure 109 



74b. Lower panicle branches not bent down; lemmas acute, broadest 

 near the middle. Fig. 110. 



ALKALI GRASS Puccinellia airoides (Nutt.) Wats, and Coult. 



Perennial; tufted; plants 30 — 60 

 cm. tall; panicles 10 — 20 cm. long. 

 Leaf blades flat or rolled, 1 — 3 

 mm. wide. Similar to the pre- 

 ceding species, but with narrower 

 lemmas. Native and widely dis- 

 tributed in the West. Sometimes 

 cultivated under the name of 

 Zawadke AlkaU Grass. June — 

 August. Also called P. nuttalliana. 



Figure 1 10 



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