140 THE SAND STBAND FLORA 



Often on coastal sands, but not confined to these. Widely dispersed 

 in Central Europe, from Holland and France to far into Central Asia, 

 and in North America, from Atlantic coast to California, where it is 

 chiefly found in the mountains. Also in Africa. 



Schoenus nitens Hook. f. 



Perennial, slender stem from creeping rhizome, 15 — 30 cm. high; 



leaves few at base, short, terete, but furrowed along inner side, sheaths 

 not bearded. 



Marine coasts of Australia, from Moreton Bay to Western Australia, 



usually in clayey soil, but also frequently in sand. Also in Tasmania, 

 Few Zealand, and extratropical South America. 



Spartina stricta Sm. var. glabra Muhl. 



Perennial grass, with creeping, scaly rootstock, stems erect, stout, 

 4 — 12 dm. high, leaf-blades long, flat, smooth, tapering from about 

 1 cm. wide near the middle to long, slender points; edges rolled inward 

 when dry. 



Sea coasts of Europe, from North Sea to Mediterranean, North 

 America, along the Atlantic coast and in a few places on the Pacific. 



Spinifex hirsutus Lab. 



Stout stems; creeping, forming large tufts; leaves often over 3 rim , 

 long, margins involute, woolly; the male plant has sessile spikes in a 

 terminal head, each spike about 5 cm.long,spikelets sessile in the spike, 

 15 — 20 mm. long; the female plant has numerous spikelets in large 

 globular head, the spikelet 20 — 25 mm. long, acute. 



On sandy shores of New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tasmania, and 

 Australia, from Queensland to West Australia. 



A slightly differing form, occurring near Fremantle in Western 

 Australia, has been referred to as 8. longifolius E. Br., but its right as 

 a distinct species is doubtful. 



8. squarrosus L. 



Besembles foregoing species in habit. The heads are large, radiating, 

 and when the seeds are matured, the heads become detached, and are 

 easily carried by the wind along the sand, thus dispersing their seeds. 



On sandy shores of India. 



Stipa tenacissima L. 

 Perennial grass, with long, slender leaves. Eesembles in habit 



