244 On the Grasses. [May, 



esteemed, especially in Cambridgeshire, where it is said to give 

 the peculiar taste to Cottenham and Chidder cheese, {London's 

 Encyc. of Jigri.) 



It will not flourish, except on land that is constantly under wa- 

 ter, or converted into a bog or swamp. We have noticed that it 

 flourishes very well in Western New York, in places which are 

 partially inundated, or very moist, but nearly dry during the 

 months of July and August, at which time the grass arrives at 

 maturity in this climate; hence we conclude it might be culti- 

 vated to advantage by those who have such grounds, as it might 

 be gathered for hay during those months. Its giowth would also 

 be profitable in artificial fish-ponds, that the fish might eat the 

 seeds. There are many sections of the Southern States where its 

 cultivation might be introduced with advantage, since it seems 

 well adapted to the climate. 



Glyceria Canadensis, Trin. 



Panicle large, diffuse, semiverticillate branches, mostly by 

 threes, at length pendulous; spikelets broadly ovate, obtuse, about 

 five flowered.— 7'orr., /. S. M. Y., 2, p. 466; Hook., Jl. Bor. 

 Am., 2, p. 249; Briza. Canadensis Michx., ji. \, p. 71; Poa 

 Canadensis, Beauv. Agrost., p. 155; Poa aquatica Pursh., fl. 1, 

 p. 80. 



Culm erect, two to three feet high; leaves scabrous; sometimes 

 longer than culm; ligule lacerate obtuse; spikelets ovate before 

 flowering, but afterwards broad, with the upper florets slightly re- 

 curved; glumes unequal, small, acute; lower palea ovate, acute, 

 nerved; upper palea shorter, and very obtuse; stamens two; cary- 

 opsis, oblong, brown. 



Grows in wet meadows and swamps, in Northern States and 

 Canada. 



Glyceria, R. Brown. 



JVame derived from Glukus, a Greek word, signifying sweet, 

 in alkision to the herbage. 



Spikelets many flowered ; flowers imbricate, distichous, herma- 

 phrodite; glumes two, concave, obtuse, lower one shortest; palea 

 two, nearly equal, inferior ovate, eliptical, round, obtuse, or obso- 

 lete, trilobed, seven nerved, upper one bicarnate; stamens two to 

 three; ovarium sessile; styles two, terminal elongate; stigmas plu- 

 mose; Caryopsis oblong, free; perennial aquatic grasses; commonjin 

 the temperate regions of both hemispheres; leaves flat; panicle 

 simple or branched, branches fasciculate, semiverticillate. 



