I 7 6 GRAMINEAE. 



2. Spartina polystachya (Michx.) Ell. Salt Reed-grass. (Fig. 402.) 



Trachynotia polvstachya Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 64 

 1803. 



Spartina polystachya Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. i: 95. 1817. 



Culms 4-9 tall, erect, stout, simple, smooth. 

 Sheaths overlapping, those at the base of the culm 

 crowded; ligule a ring of hairs; leaves i long or more, 

 y 2 '-\' wide, flat, scabrous at least on the margins, at- 

 tenuate into a long slender tip; spikes 20-50, ascend- 

 ing, often long-peduncled, 2 / -4 / in length, the rachis 

 rough on the margins; spikelets much imbricated, 4"- 

 5 // long, the outer scales acute, strongly scabrous-his- 

 pid on the keel, the first half the length of the sec- 

 ond; third scale scabrous on the upper part of the 

 keel, obtuse, longer than the first and exceeded by 

 the palet. 



In salt and brackish marshes, Maine to New Jersey and 

 Florida. Called also Creek-thatch. Aug.-Oct. 



3. Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. Salt-meadow Grass. (Fig. 403.) 



Dactylis patens Ait. Hort. Kew. i: 104. 1789. 

 Spartina patens Muhl. Gram. 55. 1817. 

 Spartina juncea Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. i: 94. 1817. 



Culms i-3 tall, erect, or decumbent at base, 

 smooth. Lower sheaths overlapping and crowded; 

 ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves %-i long, i // -2 // 

 broad, involute, attenuate into a long tip, smooth 

 and glabrous beneath; spikes 2-10, i / -2 / long, usually 

 ascending, more or less peduncled, the rachis slightly 

 scabrous; spikelets 3 // ~4 // long; outer scales acute, 

 scabrous-hispid on the keel, the first usually rather 

 less than one-half as long as the second; third scale 

 somewhat scabrous on the upper part of the keel, 

 emarginate or 2-toothed at the apex, longer than the 

 first and exceeded by the palet. 



On salt meadows, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to 

 Florida, west to Texas. This and Juncus Gerardi, the 

 "Black Grass," furnish most of the salt meadow hay of 

 the Atlantic coast. Aug.-Oct. 



4. Spartina gracilis Trin. Inland Cord-grass. (Fig. 404.) 



YI 



Sparltna gracilis Trin. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. (VI.) 6: 

 no. 1840. 



Culms i-3 tall, erect, simple, smooth. Sheaths 

 overlapping, those at the base of the culm short and 

 crowded; ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves i long or 

 less, i // ~3 // wide, flat or involute, attenuate into a 

 long tip; spikes 4-8, i / -2 / long, appressed, more or 

 less peduncled; spikelets 3 // ~4 // long; outer scales 

 acute, scabrous-hispid on the keel, the first half the 

 length of the second; third scale obtuse, slightly 

 shorter than the second and about equalling the obtuse 

 palet. 



In saline soil, Assiniboia and British Columbia to 

 Nebraska and Nevada. Aug.-Sept. 



