SPARTINA ALTEENIFLOEA. 215 



SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA. 



LOISEL. SMITH. HOOKER AND ARNOTT. PARNELL. KUNTH. 

 BABINGTON. MACREIGHT. 



PLATE LXX. 



Spartina glabra, MUHLEMB. 



" Icevigata, LINK. 



Trachynotia alternifolia, DE CANDOLLE. 



The Many-spiked Cord-Grass. 



Spartina Named from its resemblance to Lygeum spartum. 

 Alterniflora Alternate-flowered. 



A ROBUST reed-like Grass, growing on muddy banks of rivers. 

 --\- Cattle are particularly fond of it; also used for thatching. 



Found on the banks of the Itchen and Southampton river, where 

 it is very common, but not found elsewhere. A native also of North 

 America. 



Stem smooth, striated, and sheathed to the apex, bearing numerous, 

 somewhat erect, alternate, strong, flat, (except on edges, where involute,) 

 leaves, with smooth striated sheaths, the upper one extending beyond 

 its leaf. Ligule brief, blunt, and jagged. Joints numerous. Leaves 

 frequently a foot in length, the upper ones extending beyond the apex 

 of the flower spikes. Inflorescence consisting of from four to thirteen 

 spikes, which are close and compact. Spikelets alternate. Rachis 

 ending in a wavy point. Spikelets of two glumes and one floret; 

 glumes exceedingly unequal, the inner one largest, membranous and 

 lanceolate; inner one five-ribbed. Floret consisting of two palese, which 

 are shorter than the glumes, and acute; outer palea three-ribbed. 

 Stamens three. Filaments shorter than the floret and capillary. 

 Anthers linear and erect, cloven at the base, and pointed at the apex. 



