180 



Fig. 174. SPARTINA PATENS (Ait.) Muhl. Gram. 55. 1817. {Dactylis patens 

 Ait. Hort. Kew. 1 : 104. 1789; SpciHina juncea Ell. Sk. Bot. S. C. and Ga. 1 : 94. 

 1816.) FOX-GRASS.— A rather slender and somewhat wiry grass 3-9 dm. (lo-3°) 

 high, with two to four slender, erect, or wddely spreading spikes 2-5 cm. (l'-2') 

 long. Sheaths overlapping and crowded; leaf-blades 1.5-3 dm. {i°-l°) long, 

 2-4 mm. ( l"-2"j broad, involute, smooth beneath. Spikelets (o) 6-8 mm. (3"-4") 

 long; empty glumes acute, the first about one-half as long as the second; flower- 

 ing glume (b) emarginate or 2-toothed at the apex, exceeded by the palea (c).— 

 ■ Salt marshes and sandy shores along the coast from Newfoundland to Florida 

 and westward to Texas. June to September. 



This species is abundant on the salt marshes, and in common with black-grass 

 {Juncus gerardi) furnishes most of the salt hay that these meadow^s produce. 

 It is also useful for packing glassware, crockery, etc., and is much used for this 

 purpose. 



