444 GRAM IN ACE jE. 



40. jGrLYCERIA. Brown. Manna Grass. 



(From the Greek y\vrvs , sweet ; on account of the sweet taste of the grains.) 

 Spikelets long, linear, many-flowered ; rachis jointed. Glumes 

 2, membranaceous, nearly equal, pointless. Palese membrana- 

 ceously herbaceous, nearly equal, awnless ; the lower one usually 

 obtuse, 7-nerved ; the upper 2-keeled. Stigmas decompound. 

 Panicle nearly simple. 



1. G. Jiuitans Brown: panicle secund, slightly branched, divaricate; 

 spikelets linear-terete, appressed, 8 12-flowered; flowers very obtuse. 

 Festuca jluitans Linn. 



Wet grounds. N. Eng. N. Y. and Penn. W. to Mich. June, July. 2J.. 

 Root creeping. Culm 3 5 feet high, compressed, erect or ascending. Leaves 

 long, linear-lanceolate. Panicle 12 15 inches long, slender, partly concealed 

 in the upper sheath ; branches mostly simple. Common Manna-grass. 



2. G. acutiflora Torr. : panicle simple, elongated, appressed ; spikelets 

 linear-terete, 4 12-flowered ; flowers attenuated, acute, indistinctly nerved. 

 Fesluca acutiflora Big. 



Overflowed meadows. N. Y. and Mass, to Del. W. to Ohio. June. 1^. 

 Culm about 18 inches high. Leaves short, erect, attenuated at the point. Pan- 

 icle long and slender, somewhat nodding. Resembles the preceding, but dis- 

 tinguished by its acute flowers and nerveless paleae. 



Sharp-flowered Manna-grass. 



3. G. aquatica Smith : panicle equal, diffuse, much branched ; spikelets 

 linear-oblong, 5 9-flowered ; flowers free, oblong, obtuse, prominently 7- 

 nerved. Poa aquatica Linn. 



Wet meadows. Can. to Virg. July, Aug. 1\.. Root creeping. Culm 3 5 

 feet high, thick. Leaves broad-linear, a foot or more in length. Panicle very 

 large, often purplish. Reed Manna-grass. 



4. G. nervaia Trin. : panicle diffuse, loose ; the branches slender and at 

 length pendulous ; spikelets ovate-oblong, about 5-flowered ; flowers ob- 

 tuse, conspicuously 7-nerved. Poa nervata Wdld. P. striata Mich. P. 

 parviflora Pursh. 



Wet meadows. Can. to Flor. W. to Ohio. June. l\..Culm 34 feet 

 high. Leaves narrow-linear, flat, smooth ; ligule ovate. Panicle large, capillary, 

 often purplish. Nerved Manna-grass. 



5. G. elongata Trin. : panicle elongated, racemose ; branches mostly 

 solitary, appressed ; spikelets ovate, obtuse, somewhat tumid, 3 4-flow- 

 ered ; lower palea rather acute ; stamens 2. Poa elongata Torr. Fl. 



Swamps and wet meadows. Can. to Penn. June, July. 7J.. Culm 34 

 feet high, simple. Leaves long, nearly smooth ; ligule nearly wanting. Panicle 

 8 12 inches long, somewhat nodding. Long-panlcled Manna-grass. 



6. G. Canadensis Trin. : panicle large, effuse ; branches semiverticillate, 

 at length pendulous ; spikelets broad-ovate, tumid, 5 8-flowered ; lower 

 palea somewhat acute, 7-nerved ; upper shorter and very obtuse ; stamens 

 2. Briza Canadensis Mich. 



Swamps. Can. N. Eng. and N. Y. July, Aug. Tj.. Culm 23 feet high, 

 erect, terete. Leaves linear, long, roughish ; ligule obtuse, lacerate. Panicle 

 6 S inches long, the branches at length spreading. Canadian Manna-grass. 



