RATTLESNAKE GRASS. 71 



July. Its panicle is long and loose ; leaves short and 

 flat, and of a pale-green color. 



30. MELICA. Melic Grass. 



Spikelets from two to five flowered ; one, and some- 

 times two or three of the upper flowers imperfect and 

 dissimilar, wrapped around each other. Glumes usually 

 large, convex, obtuse ; stamens three. 



MELIC GRASS (Melica mutica) is a grass natural to the 

 rich soils of the Western States, Ohio, Illinois, and Wis- 

 consin, and grows with a loose, smooth, simple panicle, 

 from two to four feet high ; glumes unequal ; two fer- 

 tile flowers. It is perennial, and flowers in June. 



31. GLYCERIA. Manna Grass. 



Spikelets rounded ; rachis separating into joints ; 

 glumes two, pointless, nearly equal ; paleae awnless, the 

 lower rounded on the back ; five to seven nerved ; sta- 

 mens three ; root creeping, perennial. Glyceria from 

 a Greek word, signifying sweet, from the taste of the 

 grain. 



RATTLESNAKE GRASS ( Glyceria Canadensis) has an ob- 

 long, pyramidal, spreading panicle, with beautifully 

 drooping spikelets, six or eight flowered, and long, 

 roughish leaves, which together make it an object of 

 interest and search for bouquets and vases ; resembling 

 the quaking grass in general appearance. It is very 

 common in wet, boggy places, growing from two to 

 three feet high, but possesses little or no agricultural 

 value. Found common in New England and the West- 

 ern States, in soils suitable to its growth. Flowers in 

 July. 



The OBTUSE SPEAR GRASS (Glyceria obtusa) has a 

 dense, narrowly oblong panicle ; spikelets six or seven 

 flowered, erect, swelling; lower palea obtuse, leaves 



