POA. 



261 



ligules short, triangular, serrated; panicle simple, somewhat 

 spreading, long, and tapering ; branches spreading and arch- 

 ing, the branchlets short and erect ; spikelets few, very long 

 and narrow, cylindrical, containing five to seven ribbed 

 florets, beautifully variegated with green and white; the 

 summit of the lowest floret extends beyond the large outer 

 glume; outer glumes unequal, blunt, one-ribbed, small; 

 flowering glumes ribbed five or seven times, blunt, but with 

 the midrib toothed its whole length, often protruding a 

 sharp point ; palea small, having two teeth on the apex, and 

 a green rib on each margin. 



This very elegant grass is abundant in slow streams, 

 on the margin of ponds, and in swampy places. Its rich 

 green hue, tall stems, and 

 remarkably graceful pani- 

 cles, stately in their upright- 

 ness, and yet arching slightly, 

 as if out of courtesy to the 

 weeds of humbler growth, 

 attract the collector who is 

 in search of plants for a 

 bouquet. But in securing 

 the panicles of the Floating 

 Meadow-grass for the draw- 

 ing-room vase, the eager col- 

 lector is condemned to dis- 

 appointment. So weak is 

 the stem of this grass, though 

 it is rather thick than other- 

 wise, that it bends and breaks 

 before you have carried it a dozen yards, and it even 

 needs care in carrying home specimens for the her- 

 barium. 



