COMMON EEED GRASS. 109 



on sand-hills along the coast from Virginia southward. 

 Leaves narrow when dry ; spikelets egg-shaped ; stems 

 from four to eight feet high. Of no value for culti- 

 vation. 



Broad-leaved Spike Grass ( Vhiola lati/olia), another 

 species found on rich, shady hill-sides, from Pennsyl- 

 vania to Illinois and southward, is known by its loose 

 panicle ; stem two to four feet high ; leaves broad and 

 flat ; spikelets hanging on long pedicels. Flowers in 

 August. 



Slender Spike Grass ( Uniola gracilis) is still another 

 species found on sandy soils on the coast from Long 

 Island to Virginia, and further south. Stem rises three 

 feet high, and slender. 



39. Phragmites. Beed Grass. 



Glumes shorter than the flowers, keeled, sharp-pointed, 

 and very unequal ; rachis silky-bearded ; paless slender, 

 the lower thrice the length of the upper ; styles long, 

 grain free. 



The Common Reed Grass {Phragmites communis) is 

 a very tall, broad-leaved grass, with the flower in a large 

 terminal panicle.' It looks at a little distance very much 

 like broom-corn ; stem five to twelve feet high. 



It grows on the borders of ponds and swamps, and is 

 one of the largest grasses in the United States. It oc- 

 curs in many localities in Massachusetts, ,and thence 

 west to Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Flowers 

 in September. 



40. Arundinaria. Cane. 



Glumes concave, awnless, small, lower smaller than 

 the upper ; scales three, longer than the ovary ; sta- 

 mens three, stems woody. ' 

 10 



