The Book of Grasses 



aside it suffers sorely. Indeed, it is unpleasant to pick even one 

 piece of Rice Cut-grass for analysis, so determinedly do the 

 leaves catch on hands and clothing. 



Both White-grass (Leersia virginica) and Rice Cut-grass bloom 

 in late summer in wet places, where the stems, branching abun- 

 dantly, bear panicles of green or whitish-green blossoms. Rice 

 Cut-grass is the stouter species and bears larger panicles, while 

 enclosed in the lower sheaths cleistogamous blossoms may often 

 be found. In White-grass the few branches of the panicles spread 

 stiffly and bear comparatively few spikelets, while the leaves are 

 shorter, broader, and less rough than are those of the larger species. 



It is said that the leaves of certain species of the genus are 

 sensitive in the same manner as are the leaves of the sensitive 

 plant. One species, known as Catch-fly Grass {Leersia lenticu- 

 laris) bears wide spikelets armed with strong bristles. Of this 

 grass and its blossoms, Pursh, an early botanist, writes: "Found 

 on islands of Roanoke River, N. C, and observed it catching flies 

 in same manner as Diondea muscipula (Venus's Fly-trap)." The 

 scales certainly look as if they might close like steel-traps and im- 

 prison insects, but as the most modern text-books say nothing of 

 this habit his record may remain as an "evidence of things not 

 seen" by less fortunate botanists of later times. 



Rice Cut-grass. Cut-grass. Leersia oryioides (L.) Sw. 



Perennial. 

 Stem 2-4 ft. tall, much branched, erect or spreading. Liguie very short. 



Sheaths and leaves rough, clothed in minute, downward-pointing, 



hooked prickles. Leaves 4'- 10' long, 2"-^" wide. 

 Panicle 5'-io' long, branches spreading, not numerous. Spikelets i- 



flowered, flattened, light green, 2"-2|" long. Scales 2, nearly equal 



in length, downy; outer scale rough on keel and margins; inner scale 



rough on keel. Stamens 3, anthers pale yellow. 

 Marshes and along streams. July to September. 

 Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida and Texas. 



REED CANARY-GRASS 



"Thou should'st have gathered reeds from a green stream." 



A broad ribbon of dull rose often borders the winding streams 

 and brooks of June when, for a few weeks, the Reed Canary-grass 

 blooms. In spikelets and lightly poised anthers this grass offers 



90 



