The Book of Grasses 



their summits, are sometimes used for thatching, but the plant, 

 until thoroughly dry, has an unpleasant odour. 



Cord-grass {Spartina Michauxiana), found by river and lake 

 borders, as well as near the coast, is a tall, stout grass whose 

 smooth stems bear an inflorescence composed of five to thirty 

 light-coloured, erect or spreading spikes. Paper and twine have 

 been manufactured from this species, and, like Creek Sedge, 

 Cord-grass is used to form a waterproof thatch. 



Salt Reed-grass {Spartina cynosurotdes) is the largest of the 

 genus and bears broad, rough leaves, and a dense inflorescence of 

 many spikes, which are often tinged with purple. On the Jersey 

 marshes, acres are covered by this grass, which sometimes attains 

 a height of ten feet, with stems an inch in diameter at the base. 



Fox-Grass. Salt-meadow Grass. Spartina patens (Ait.) 

 Muhl. 



Perennial from creeping rootstocks. 



Stem 1-3 ft. tall, slender, erect, sometimes reddish. Sheaths and 

 lower surface of leaves very smooth. Ligule a ring of very short 

 hairs. Leaves 4'-i4' long, i"-2" wide, dark green, involute, rather 

 rigid. 



Spikes 2-7, alternate, narrow, i -sided, i'-2' long, erect or spreading, 

 on short pedicels. Spikelets i -flowered, narrow, 4"-^" long, in 2 rows, 

 green or pinkish purple. Scales 3; outer scales acute, unequal, rough 

 on keels; flowering scale slightly 2-toothed; palet slightly longer than 

 flowering scale. Stamens 3, anthers purple or reddish brown. 



Salt meadows and sandy shores along the coast. June to September. 



Newfoundland to Virginia. 



Creek Sedge. Creek Thatch. Smooth Marsh-grass. 



Spartina glabra Muhl. var. pildsa Merr. 



Perennial, from stout, creeping rootstocks. 



Stem 2-9 ft. tall, stout, reed-like, erect. Sheaths and leaves smooth. 

 Ligule a ring of short hairs. Leaves 5 '-24' long, 2"-8" wide. 



Spikes usually many, i'-4' long, erect, i -sided, forming a terminal, 

 spike-like inflorescence. Spikelets i -flowered, narrow, 6"-8" long, 

 in 2 rows. Scales 3; outer scales acute, unequal, rough on keels; 

 palet slightly longer than flowering scale. Stamens 3, anthers light 

 coloured. Stigmas long, white. A variable species. 



In salt marshes and by the borders of creeks. July to October. 



On the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 



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