A DESCRIPTION OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA. 259 
ikes few, mostly two (seldomer three); Spikes numerous; four to thirteen (mostly 
rachis scarcely produced beyond the ul- ^ six or seven), very unequal ; partial ra- 
timate floret of each partial spike into chis much produced beyond the terminal 
-~ asubulate point. floret into an awn-like, flexuose point. 
_ Florets very hairy, larger and narrower Florets smaller and broader than in stricta ; 
than in Sp. alterniflora (usually about smooth; colour, clear straw-yellow. 
. one-fourth), colour, yellowish-grey, or 
ash. 
Calyz-glumes long and narrow; larger Calyx-glumes broader in proportion to 
. glume terminating in a simple, or bi their length than in stricta ; smaller one 
acute point. Smaller glume (usually) ^ often not more than about half the length 
much more than half the length of the of larger,! which last is emarginate be- 
- larger! linear, almost filiform. low the apex, and mostly crowned with 
» a fascicle of white bristly hairs. 
.. Corolla-valves as in Sp. alterniflora; per- Corolla-valves broader than in stricta ; 
haps a little more acute; smooth. often somewhat hairy. 
: Seed compressed ; smooth, with a recurved Seed seldom perfected ; similar in form to 
beak, crowned with the withered styles. ^ that of stricta. 
ee It is of importance to remark, that the least by similarity of habits resulting from 
hampton Spartina presents no grada- intimate relationship. 
: sd by which it may be said to merge On the vast mud-banks above the Itchen 
percepit bly into the ordinary stricta. Ferry, and on both sides alike, Sp. alter- 
x all its phases it preserves its identity. niflora abounds, occurring in the utmost 
: = stricta occurs (and I have been at profusion where nota single plant of stricta 
3s vm pains to ascertain the exact limits of shows itself. In the firmer and drier parts 
ifo. species with us, to prove the fact of of both stations we find starved and stunt- 
? their distinctness bythe strongest evidence) ed individuals of all sizes, which, though 
: T below the Itchen Ferry,! that is to not larger, or even much less, than full- 
L ^i near where the Itchen river enters the grown specimens of Sp. stricta, constantly - 
» oe Water ; and is there confined retain, on a reduced scale, the more fibrous 
^ SV Spots, and those of limited extent. root, stouter habit, longer leaves, unjointed 
- Drips lower station Sp. stricta grows and dilated leaf-bases, and glabrous florets ; 
J : is En Com of Sp. alterniflora, (which and this, when from a deficiency of nutri- 
; mingli e prevailing species,) yet never ment or other deteriorating causes, the 
iile ng with the latter; nothing can be spikes have been reduced to four or five 
ünsociable than our two Spartinas ; from their medium amount of six or eight. 
each semp : gregarious Grasses, but On the lower station this diminutive form 
with Tding with those of its own kind, of alterniflora may be gathered within a 
.. "^ exclusiveness uninfluenced in the couple of yards of the true stricta, yet so 
i og find Sp. stricta between Southampton and ifferent is the aspect of this last, that the 
»48 mentioned by Mr. H. C. Watson, in his € discriminates betwixt them at a glance. 
Wine cine Guide,” on the authority of Mr. In vain should we look for the continuous 
Se * this the same station as that quoted im- sheath, crowned towards the lower part of 
~ * Botanist’s Guide," or the culm with the withered, but persisting 
heap she erg leaf, on the same plant, having twin, or triple . 
im ii glabra, on the banks of the Itchen A 
" T Pin high water-mark, in great plenty. spikes, and hairy florets ; and equally futile 
