MARRAM GRASS 



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long- sheaths at the base, and the ligule is torn, long, and split into two 

 portions. 



The panicle is cylindrical, linear, stouter in the middle. The glumes 

 are long, acute, with hairs a third as long as the palea. The anthers 

 are yellow and linear. 



Marram Grass is 2, 3, or 4 ft. high. Flowers may be found 

 in July. The plant is a perennial, propagated by division, and 

 widely planted. 



The flowers are bi- 

 sexual, and pollinated by 

 the wind. There are 

 3 stamens, short styles, 

 and feathery stigmas. 

 The anthers are yellow 

 and linear. 



The fruit is attached 

 to the glume, and is dis- 

 persed by the latter by 

 aid of the wind. 



The plant is a salt- 

 lover and grows in saline 

 soil, and is at the same 

 time a sand plant, and 

 grows in the sand. 



It is attacked by a 

 fungus, Ustilago hypo- 

 dytes, and is galled by 

 Eurytoma hyalipennis. A Heteropterous insect, Chorosoma schillingi, 

 and a Homopterous insect, Liburnia boldi, are found on Marram 

 Grass. 



Ammophila is from the Greek psammos (= ammos), sand, and 

 phileo, I love, and the second Latin name refers to the sandy habitat. 

 Marram; Danish Markalm = sea haulm or straw. 



This plant is called Bent, Broad Bent, Helme, Marram, Mat-grass, 

 Mat Reed, Signs, Spire, Stare. 



On account of the long creeping rhizomes it is used for binding 

 sand together, and has helped to reclaim much land on the east coast. 

 It is both planted and encouraged on the Norfolk and other coasts, 

 having rhizomes 30 ft. long sometimes, which are used as ropes. It 

 is used for thatching. So important was the service it rendered in 

 staving back the advance of the sea that it was held to be penal to 



MARRAM GRASS (Ammophila arenaria, Link.) 



