242 On the Grasses. [May, 



Glyceria Dentale, (plate 2, fig. 3.)— Toothed Manna Grass. 



Panicle spreading, branches flexuous, mostly by twos; spikelets 

 ovate lanceolate, rather distant, about five flowered; glumes une- 

 qual; palea nearly equal, about five nerved. — Poa dentala Torr., 

 Jl. 1, p. 107, andji. S. A'. Y., 2, p. 461; Triodia pallida Spring, 

 neue entd. 1, p. 246; Uralepis? pallida Kunth. Culms decum- 

 bent or oblique, about two feet long, round, smooth, often branch- 

 ing from the base and rooting from the lower joints; leaves of 

 the culm about six inches long and four lines wide, smooth, ligule 

 oblong, rather obtuse. 



We have followed the suggestions of Dr. Torrey, in referring 

 this species to Glyceria. This grass has an extensive range, being 

 often found in the wet sandy places in the Northern and Western 

 States, and as far south as Florida. With its nutritive properties 

 we are unacquainted yet; probably it affords nourishing food to 

 either horses, cattle or sheep. 



Glyceria Aquatica, Smith. — Reed Manna Grass. 



Panicle large, diffuse, much branched; spikelets oblong linear, 

 obtuse, about seven flowered; glumes unequal, ovate, obtuse; 

 palea nearly equal obtuse, lower one strongly nerved. — Smith, 

 Engl., Jl. 1, p. 116; " Glyceria spectahilis Trin. in Jict. Petrop., 

 6, ser. 1, p. 365;" Poa aquatica Linn., sp. 1, p. 67; Poa aquatica 

 var. Americana Torr., Jl. 1, p. 108. Culm erect, terite, three to 

 five feet high; leaves broad, linear, smooth, accuminate; spikelets 

 vary in color from purple to green. 



Wet meadows, swamps and bogs of Northern States. It is 

 also a native of many parts of Europe, where it is highly valued 

 both for hay and pasturage. Many swamps and marshes through- 

 out the Northern States, which are now nearly useless, might be 

 rendered valuable by seeding them down with several of our large 

 Glycerias, especially the G. aquatica, which is called the Water 

 meadow grass, in England. 



The following is from the American Farmer's Encyclopedia: 

 " The water meadow grass is one of the largest of English grasses. 

 It is found chiefly in marshes, but will grow on strong clays, and 

 yields, as the Woburn experiments prove, a prodigious produce. 

 In the fens of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, &c., immense tracts, 

 that used to be overflowed, and to produce useless aquatic plants, 

 and which, though drained by mills, still retain much mois- 

 ture, are covered with this grass; which not only affords rich 

 pasturage in summer, but forms the chief part of the winter 

 fodder. It has a powerful creeping root; bears frequent mowing 

 well, sometimes being cut three times in one season. It grows 

 not only in very moist ground, but in the water itself; and with 



