REED MEADOW GRASS. 73 



long); The numerous branches ascending, spread- 

 ing with age ; spikelets oblong or linear oblong, 5 to 

 9 flowered, usually purplish (1-6 to 3-12 inches 

 long): Lower palet entire ; leaves large, 1 to 2 feet 

 long 1-3 to 1-2 inch wide. Wet grounds, common 

 Northward. Flowers in July. Culm stout, upright 

 3 to 5 feet high. Gray. 



Like G. Fluitans this grows naturally in and by 

 the sides of pools, and on rich, -alluvial soils, more 

 especially on the banks of rivers where it is occa- 

 sionally covered by fresh water tides* 



This is one of the tallest of British grasses, with a 

 powerful creeping root, a native of most parts of 

 Europe, and very common in the fens at Cambridge- 

 shire, England, where it not only^ affords a rich pas- 

 turage in summer, but forms the chief winter fodder. 

 It is sometimes cut thrice in one season, it grows not 

 only in very moist ground but also in very deep 

 water. 



In the Isle of Ely, it is so abundant and so much 

 valued that it there forms a great source of their 

 dairy riches being considered excellent food for cows, 

 though not relished by horses. It grows thereto 

 the height of six feet ; it is however usually cut when 

 about four feet high and is bound up into sheaves 

 and stacked for fodder. 



Immense tracts which were formerly overflowed, 

 are now covered with this plant which from its 

 strong stem and upright growth is suited to places 

 unfit for the finer grasses. 



Some of these Glycerias have been sown among 

 the grasses for laying down meadows in wet soils, 

 and for such they deserve attention as they produce 

 great abundance of valuable fodder. 



