436 GRAMINACE.*:, 



28 SPARTINA. Sckrcb. Marsh Grass. 

 (Said to be named on account of its similarity to Lygeum Spartum.) 



Spikelets imbricate, one-flowered, much compressed. Glumes 

 and paleae unequal, awnless. Styles mostly united below. 

 Spikes unilateral. 



1. cyiiosuroides Willd. : leaves very long, filiform at the end, at length 

 convolute; spikes numerous, (8 40,) scattered, pedunculate, forming a 

 long secund panicle ; glumes serrulate on the keel, with a long slender 

 point; style2-cleft at the summit. (Torr. N. Y. Fl.) S. polystachya MuM. 

 Limnetis cynosuroides and polystachya Pers. 



Marshes and banks of streams. Can. to Car. W. to the Platte River. Aug. 

 1\. Culm 3 8 feet high, smooth, terete. Leaves 1 3 feet long, narrow. 

 Spikes linear, about 3 inches long, on scabrous spreading peduncles. 



Tatt Marsh-grass. 



2. S. juncea Willd. : leaves distichous, convolute, spreading ; spikes few, 

 (1 5,) on smooth peduncles ; palese rather obtuse ; styles distinct nearly to 

 the base. Limiietis juncea Pers. 



Salt marshes and river banks. Can. to Car. July, Aug. '!}.. Root creep- 

 ing, forming thick tufts. Culm 1 2 feet high, rigid, smooth. Leaves 6 10 

 inches long, very slender, smooth. Spikes usually 3 ; the lowest pedunculate. 

 It forms a part of salt hay. Rush-like Marsh-grass. 



3. S". alternifolia Loisel. : leaves channelled, erect ; spikes numerous, 

 (8 14), elongated, sessile, erect, appressed; glumes and palese nearly 

 smooth ; styles distinct nearly to the base. S. glabra MuM. 



Salt marshes. N. Y. and Mass, to Car. Aug., Sept. 1\ . Root creeping ex- 

 tensively. Culm 3 5 feet high, smooth and somewhat succulent. Leaves 

 broad at the base, tapering to a long point. Spikes unequal, closely appressed 

 to the common rachis. For thatching it is said to be preferable to wheat straw. 

 It has a strong rancid smell, which renders it unfit for cattle. 



Smooth Marsh-grass. 



29. ATHEROPOGON. MuM. Atheropogon. 



(From the Greek a0j?p, a bristle, and nwyuv, a beard ; the beards being bristle- 

 like.) 



Spikelets unilateral, nearly sessile, alternate, 2 3-flowered ; 

 the terminal flower abortive. Glumes 2, membranaceous, un- 

 equal ; the lower shorter, setiform. Perfect flower, subcoria- 

 ceous. Lower palea 3-toothed or 3-bristled; upper bifid. 

 Abortive flower pedicellate, neutral. Spikes short, arranged in 

 a raceme. 



A. apludaidcs Muhl. : spikes numerous, in a terminal raceme, alternate, 

 distant, pendulous, at length secund ; spikelets mostly 2-flowered ; lower 

 palea of the perfect flower tricuspidate ; abortive flower with 3 hristles. 

 CMoris curtipendula Mich. Boutdoua racemosa Lag. Torr. N. Y. FL 



Dry rocky banks. N. Y. N. J. and Penn. W. fo the Rocky Mountains ; rare. 

 Aug. 'ty. Culm 2 3 feet high, geniculate at base, smooth. Leaves lanceolate, 



