398 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



The fruits are usually light and wind-dispersed. 



In this group there are numerous plants of eco- 

 nomic importance. 



Grasses generally afford pasture for cattle, or hay. 

 The cereals wheat, barley, oats, maize are included. 

 Rice is another important type. The Bamboo is 

 used for a variety of purposes amongst native peoples 

 and in European commerce. 



Bentham and Hooker have divided the Graminacese 

 into several tribes, a type of each of which is here 

 described. 



Cord-Grass {Spartina Townsendi). 



In the English name the habit of the plant is 

 referred to. The first Latin name is from the Greek, 

 spartion, which is the Greek for Broom. The name 

 is mentioned by Pliny in connection with Broom and 

 also with Sparto Grass, used by paper-makers and 

 others. This was the plant called by Linnaeus Stipa 

 tenacissiina. The name of a British botanist is com- 

 memorated in the second Latin name. Another 

 derivation is from the Greek, spartine, a cord. 



This species is found mainly on the South and 

 East coasts in England, the Isle of Wight, Hants, 

 Sussex, Kent. 



Being a maritime species its habitat is mud flats. 

 It forms extensive associations callea spartinetum in 

 the salt-marsh formation. It first appeared in 1870, 

 and has spread since then extensively. 



