176 GRAMINEAE. 
2. Spartina polystachya (Michx.) Ell. Salt Reed-grass. (Fig. 402.) 
Bien polystachya Michx. Fl. Bor. Am, 1: 64. 
1803. 
Spartina polystachya Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1:95. 1817. 
Culms 4°-9° tall, erect, stout, simple, smooth. 
Sheaths overlapping, those at the base of the culm 
crowded; ligule a ring of hairs; leaves 1° long or more, 
14/-1’ wide, flat, scabrous at least on the margins, at- 
tenuate into a long slender tip; spikes 20-50, ascend- 
ing, often long-peduncled, 2’-4’ in length, the rachis 
rough on the margins; spikelets much imbricated, 4//— 
5’’ long, the outer scales acute, strongly scabrous-his- 
pid on the keel, the first half the length of the sec- 
ond; third scale scabrous on the upper part of the 
keel, obtuse, longer than the first and exceeded by 
the palet. 
In salt and brackish marshes, Maine to New Jersey and 
Florida. Called also Creek-thatch. Aug.—Oct. 
3. Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. Salt-meadow Grass. (Fig. 403.) 
Dactylis patens Ait. Hort. Kew. 1: 104. 1789. 
Spartina patens Muhl. Gram. 55. 1817. 
Spartina juncea Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 94. 1817. 
Culms 1°-3° tall, erect, or decumbent at base, 
smooth. Lower sheaths overlapping and crowded; 
ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves %4°-1° long, 1//-2/’ 
broad, involute, attenuate into a long tip, smooth 
and glabrous beneath; spikes 2-10, 1/—-2’ long, usually 
ascending, more or less peduncled, the rachis slightly 
scabrous; spikelets 3/’-4’’ long; outer scales acute, 
scabrous-hispid on the keel, the first usually rather 
less than one-half as long as the second; third scale 
somewhat scabrous on the upper part of the keel, 
emarginate or 2-toothed at the apex, longer than the 
first and exceeded by the palet. 
On salt meadows, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to 
Florida, west to Texas. This and Juncus Gerardi, the 
“Black Grass,” furnish most of the salt meadow hay of 
the Atlantic coast. Aug.—Oct. 
4. Spartina gracilis Trin. Inland Cord-grass. (Fig. 404.) 
Spartina gracilis Trin. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. (VI.) 6: 
110. 1840. 
Culms 1°-3° tall, erect, simple, smooth, Sheaths 
overlapping, those at the base of the culm short and 
crowded; ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves 1° long or 
less, 1//-3/’ wide, flat or involute, attenuate into a 
long tip; spikes 4-8, 1/2’ long, appressed, more or 
less peduncled; spikelets 3/’-4’’ long; outer scales. 
acute, scabrous-hispid on the keel, the first half the 
length of the second; third scale obtuse, slightly 
shorter than the second and about equalling the obtuse 
palet. 
In saline soil, Assiniboia and British Columbia to 
Nebraska and Nevada. Aug.-Sept. 
