WATER MEADOW GRASS. 7 1 



half long and almost as broad. Its branches are numerous and carry 

 a great number of spikelets. These are at first yellowish-green but 

 after flowering they are bright brown, sometimes with a touch of 

 purple. A spikelet contains from five to eight flowers, each of which 

 is enclosed by two glumes. 



Geographical distribution: Water Meadow Grass is in- 

 digenous to almost all Europe and temperate Asia. In North 

 America a closely related species, Glyceria grandis Wats, chiefly 

 distinguished by its smaller flowers, takes the place of Glyceria 

 aquatica and may be of equal agricultural value. 



Habitat: Water Meadow Grass occurs along muddy shores of 

 lakes and streams, where it sometimes occupies vast areas to the 

 exclusion of other grasses. It makes splendid growth in shallow 

 waters with loose and swampy bottom, where the creeping root- 

 stocks do not meet any resistance. In dry ground, where the root- 

 stocks cannot develop properly, the growth is checked and the 

 quality of the grass is poor. 



Agricultural value: Although stout, Water Meadow Grass is 

 rather soft in texture and can be closely pastured by horses and cattle. 

 Especially when young, the stems and shoots are palatable and 

 greatly relished by stock. They are then sweet and highly nutritious. 

 Although its value as a forage plant was recognized in some European 

 countries in the eighteenth century, it is not extensively grown. 



Seed : The seed is scarce and often only the rootstocks are 

 available in commerce. The seeds are broadly oblong. The outer 

 of the two glumes is very blunt and provided with seven prominent 

 nerves. The unhulled seed is generally greenish to yellowish-brown. 

 The hulled seed is shining blackish brown, ovate to oblong, and about 

 the length of Alfalfa seed. 



i 



Least of all shall I stand to speak of the care he took in providing that the tenderer 



sort of Plants might receive no dammage by the Winters cold. Pierre Cassendi, The Mirrour of True 

 Nobility and Gentility, 1592-1655. 



The crops of corn die; a prickly forest of burrs and caltrops rises instead, and amidst the trim 

 and healthy grain, wretched darnel and barren wild oats assert their sway. But unless you persecute 

 the weeds by continual harrowing, and frighten away the birds by noises, and with the pruning knife 

 keep down the foliage which shades the ground, and by prayers invoke the showers, alas, in vain will 

 you view another's ample store, and solace your hunger with acorns in the woods. Virgil, Georgia. 

 B.C. 



