MEADOW SPEAB GRASS. 73 



smooth, as long as the stem. This is an aquatic grass, 

 found occasionally on the borders of ponds from New- 

 England to Pennsylvania, near the coast. Flowers in 

 August. Of no agricultural value. 



Long Panicled Manna Grass {Glyceria ehngata) is a 

 very distinct species; stems one to three feet high; 

 panicle branching, narrowly elongated, recurving ; the 

 branches appressed ; spikelets pale, erect, three to four 

 flowered; lower palea obtuse, rather longer than the 

 upper; stamens two, stigmas compound, leaves very 

 long and rough. Flourishes in wet woods and swamps 

 from New England to Michigan, and northward*. Flow- 

 ers in June and July ; perennial. Of no special agri- 

 cultural value. 



Meadow Speab Grass, Nerved Manna Grass ( Gly- 

 ceria nervata), is the fowl meadow of mmy farmers, 

 while the grass commonly called fowl meadow by others 

 (Poa serotina) often goes with them under the name 

 of bastard fowl meadow. It has a broad, open panicle, 

 often six inches in length, with slender branches ; spike- 

 lets small, ovate, oblong, green ; leaves in two rows 

 like a fan, a little rough ; stem a little compressed, one 

 to three feet high. 



It is a native American grass, the nutritive value of 

 which, according to Sinclair, is equal at the time of flow- 

 ering and when the seed is ripe, while the nutritive matter 

 of the lattermath is said to be greater than that of most 

 other grasses. It is a hardy grass, grows best on moist 

 ground, but it is said also to succeed on lightish upland 

 soils. It is a very valuable native grass, retaining its 

 nutritive qualities until the seed is ripe, and then sending 

 up large, fan-like shoots, which are succulent and nutri- 

 tious. It would be a valuable ingredient in a mixture * 

 for wet or moist pastures. Common. It is seen in Fig. 

 7 



