5S6 THE GKASS FAMILY. 



1. Sea Maram. Psamma arenaria, Eeauy. 

 {Arundo, Bng. Bot. t. 520. Ammophila arwidinacea, Brit. Fl. Maram, 



or Sea Matweed.) 



Rootstock creeping. Stems stiff, erect, 2 to 3 feet high, with narrow, 

 stiff, erect, and glaucous leaves, concave, or roUed inwards on their edges. 

 Panicle contracted into a close, narrow-cyUndrieal spike, 5 or 6 inches 

 long, tapering to the top. Spikelets crowded, 4 or 5 hues long, the outer 

 glumes lanceolate, compressed, stiff, and chaffy. Flowering glume rather 

 shorter, but equally stiff, with a tuft of short hairs outside, on the axis of 

 the spikelet. Palea nearly as long, with a minute hairy bristle, or prolon- 

 gation of the axis at its base. 



On maritime sands, common on all the coasts of Europe, except the ex- 

 treme north, and in North America. FL summer. 



XVI. SMAIjIiREED. calamageostis. 



Tall grasses, with a more or less open panicle, and numerous 1-flowered 

 spikelets. Outer glumes nearly equal, keeled and pointed. Flowering 

 glume much smaller, very thin, with a very slender and short, hair-like, 

 straight awn on its back, and a tuft of long silky hairs at its base, on the 

 axis of the spikelet. Palea usually smaller. 



A considerable genus, widely distributed over the globe, formerly united 

 with the true Reeds, from which it is distinguished chiefly by the 1-flowered 

 spikelets. 



Hairs within the spikelet longer than the flowering glnme. 



Spikelets near 3 lines long, crowded in a narrow panicle. Outer glumes 



very narrow, almost subulate 1. Wood S. 



Spikelets about 2 lines long, in a loose panicle. Outer glumes narrow- 



laaceolate .3. Purple S. 



Hairs within the spikelet shorter than the flowering glume 3. Narrovi S. 



1. ^Vood Smallreed. Calama^ostis Epi^eios, Both. 

 (Arundo, Eng. Bot. t. 403.) 



Eootstock creeping. Stems 3 or 4 feet high, erect, and rather firm, witli 

 long, narrow, somewhat glaucous leaves. Panicle branched, but not spread- 

 ing, except whilst in full flower, from a few inches to near a foot long, with 

 numerous crowded spikelets, often assuming a purphsh tint. Outer glumes 

 very narrow-lanceolate and pointed, almost subulate, both near 3 lines long. 

 Flowering glume thin, its awn very short and slender, inserted some way 

 from the top, and scarcely distinguishable from the long silky hairs wliich 

 envelope the flower. 



In moist, open places, in woods and thickets, and amongst bushes, 

 spread over the greater part of Europe and Russian Asia from the Medi- 

 terranean to the Arctic regions. Abundant in some parts of southern 

 England and Ireland, but not generally common, and rare in Scotland. 

 Fl. summer. 



2. Purple Smallreed. Calama^oatis lanceolata, Eoth. 



{Arundo Calamagrostis, Eng. Bot. t. 2159.) 

 A tall grass, like the last, and not always readily distinguished from it. 

 It is usually more slender, with flat, flaccid leaves. Panicle much looser, 



