34 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



common in moist woods. It has a loose panicle, grows two feet 

 high, with short, flat leaves, of a pale green. Flowers in June. 



Rattlesnake Grass, {glyceria canadensis.^ The generic 

 characteristics of glyceria are, many flowered spikes, mostly flat- 

 ish ; glumes two pointed, nearly equal, awnless, the lower one 

 obtuse, seven nerved ; roots creeping — perennial. Wet places 

 and standing water. The name of the genus is from a Greek 

 word signifying sweet. 



Rattlesnake grass has an oblong, pyramidal, spreading pani- 

 cle, with beautifully drooping spikelets, six or eight flowered, 

 and long, roughish leaves, which together make it an object of 

 mterest and search for bouquets and vases. It is very common 

 in wet, boggy places, growing from two to three feet high, but 

 possesses little or no agricultural value. Flowers in July. 



The Obtuse Spear Grass, (^glyceria obtusa,^ has a dense, 

 narrowly oblong panicle ,' spikelets six or seven flowered, erect, 

 swelling ; lower palea obtuse, leaves smooth, as long as the 

 stem. This is an aquatic grass, found occasionally on the 

 borders of ponds. Flowers in August. Of no agricultural 

 value. 



Long Panicled Manna Grass, (^glyceria eloiigata,') is a very 

 distinct species ; stems one to three feet high, panicle branch- 

 mg, narrowly elongated, recurving, the branches appressed, 

 spikelets pale, erect, three to four flowered, lower palea obtuse, 

 rather longer than the upper ; stamens two, stigmas compound, 

 leaves very long and rough. Flourishes in wet woods and 

 swamps. Flowers in June and July — perennial. Of no special 

 agricultural value. 



Meadow Spear Grass, Nerved Manna Grass, (^poa nerv- 

 ata,^ is the fowl meadow of some farmers, while the grass most 

 commonly called fowl meadow, (poa sej'otina,^ goes with them 

 under the name of bastard fowl meadow. It has a broad, open 

 panicle, six inches in length, with slender branches ; spikelets 

 small, ovate, oblong, green ; leaves in two rows like a fan, a 

 little rough ; stem a little compressed, one to three feet high. 

 It is a native American grass, flowering late in June. The 

 nutritive value of this grass, according to Sinclair, is equal at 

 the time of flowering and when the seed is ripe, while the nutri- 

 tive matter of the lattermath is said to be greater than that of 

 most other: grasses. It is a hardy grass, grows best on wet or 



