GLUMACEiE 



405 



long, with a small hairy bristle at the base. The 

 yellow anthers are linear. 



Marram Grass varies from i to 3 ft. in height. 

 Flowers may be found from June to August. It is a 

 herbaceous perennial. 



Like other grasses the flowers are wind-pollinated. 

 The stigma ripens before the anthers. 



The caryopsis is wind-dispersed or falls near the 

 plant. 



Bent, Broad Bent, Helme, Mat-grass, Mat-reed, 

 Signs, Spire and Stare are the English names. Stare- 

 grass is another name. Marram is from the Danish, 

 Marhalm, sea haulm or straw. 



The Marram is of economic importance in helping 

 to bind the sand together in the case of dunes and 

 to stabilise them, being responsible for the saving of 

 thousands of pounds annually. The creeping stems 

 extend 30 ft. or more. 



Ammophila arenaria. — In Fig. 115 the habitat is 

 well shown, and also the tufted habit of the grass, with 

 some idea of how it may spread by its long rooting 

 rhizomes. See also Fig. 116. 



False Oat Grass (Arrhenatherum avenaceum). 



From the true Oats, of the genus Avena, this genus 

 is separated in having the lower flower of each spike- 

 let male only (hence Arrhenatherum, from arrhen, 

 masculine, and ather, awn). In A vena there are two 

 to three flowers in the spikelet, the upper one being, 



