30 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



f Leaves rough along the edges S. cynosuroides. 



1 Leaves smooth along the edges S. juncea. 



21. SPAKTINA CYNOSUROIDES, Willdenow. 

 Spar-ti'-na cyn-os-u-roi'-des. 



Common Names. Fresh Water Cord-Grass, Tall Marsh Grass. 



Stems erect, from two to five feet high ; leaves long, and tapering 

 to a slender point. The spikes vary in number from five to twenty, 

 scattered and spreading. Spikelets close!} 7 overlapping each other. 

 Glumes with long, rigid, awn-like points, the lower one equalling the 

 length of the flowering glume. 



This species grows along the banks of rivers and lakes, flowering 

 in August. 



Spartina polystachya, Willd., Salt Reed-Grass, is given in the 

 List of Maine Plants published in 1862, but there may be some mis- 

 take about this species. This grass has the stem tall and stout, 

 from four to nine feet high and sometimes an inch in diameter at 

 the base. The leaves are broad and roughish underneath as well 

 as on the margins ; spikes from twenty to fifty, forming a dense ob- 

 long and purplish raceme ; glumes barely mucronate, the lower one 

 half as long as the flowering glume. Grows on salt or brackish 

 marshes, within tide-water. 



These are coarse grasses and make a very inferior quality of hay, 

 especially if not cut early. 



22. SPARTINA JUNCEA, Willdenow. 



Spar-ti'-na jun'-ce-a. 



PLATE X. 



Common Names. Rush Salt-Grass, Marsh Grass, Salt Grass. 



Stems slender, from one to two feet high ; leaves narrow, very 

 smooth and strongly involute (the edges rolled in) . Spikes from 

 one to five, on very short stems. Glumes acute, the lower one 

 scarcely half the length of the upper, and not half the length of the 

 flowering glume. 



This grows on salt marshes and sea beaches, and flowers in Au- 

 gust. It forms a large portion of the salt marshes near the sea- 

 coast. Dr. Vasey says it makes an inferior hay called salt hay, 

 which is worth about half as much per ton as Timothy or Red-Top. 



