SPARTINA TOWNSENDII 81 
into tufts with plenty of stolons radiating in all directions and 
anchoring themselves in the mud by long thread-like roots, which 
descend vertically. So firm is their grip on the soft substratum 
1, §. srricta.—Forming small tufts } to 14 feet high ; rhizomes 
and stolons wiry; culms with a succession of up to 15 tight, 
2. S. TownseNDII.—Forming large clumps or beds 2-4 feet high ; 
rhizomes and stolons soft; culms with a succession of up to 10 or 
12 somewhat soft sheaths, much increasing in length upwards, the 
lowest throwing off the blades; spikes usually 3-5, suberect, 
rigid, overtopping the leaves; spikelets about 83 lin. long, deli- 
cately pubescent; second glume 3-6-nerved, with 1 or 2 stouter 
side nerves, keeled, keel ending abruptly below the short hyaline 
tip. 
3. §. ALTERNIFLORA.—Forming large clumps or beds 2-3 feet 
high ; rhizomes and stolons soft; culms with a succession of up to 
8 or 9 soft and very smooth sheaths, not throwing off the blades, 
which gradually decay; spikes usually 5-7, suberect, slender, and 
often slightly flexuous, overtopped by the long drawn-out blades ; 
spikelets glabrous to the naked eye, 6-74 lin. long; second glume 
delicately 5-6-nerved, keeled to the very tip. : 
JOURNAL oF Botany.—Vor. 46. [Marca, 1908.) @ 
