Illustrated Descriptions of the Grasses 



Panicle 2'-i,' long, pyramidal, open, somewhat i -sided. Spikelets 3- 



flowered, 2"-3" long, chestnut-brown or purplish; upper flower perfect; 



lower flower staminate. Scales 5 ; outer scales 



nearly equal, smooth; 3d and 4th scales hairy; 



flowering scale hairy at apex. Stamens 2 



or 3. A very fragrant grass. 

 Moist grounds. May to July. 

 Newfoundland to Alaska, south to New Jersey 



and Colorado. 



WHITE-GRAINED MOUNTAIN RICE, 



BLACK-GRAINED MOUNTAIN RICE, 



SLENDER MOUNTAIN RICE 



"The grass flames up on the hillsides like a 

 spring fire . . . not yellow but green is the 

 colour of its flame; the symbol of perpetual 

 youth." 



The early flowers of Northern woods, 

 arbutus, yellow adder's tongue, and dicen- 

 tra, have long been honoured as heralds of 

 spring, while the lesser blossoms of shade- 

 loving early grasses and sedges have been 

 passed unnoted. Yet, the grasses, too, brave 

 inclement winds and frosts, and without 

 them the forest floors would seem bare 

 indeed. 



White-grained Mountain Rice is one of 

 the earliest of the woodland grasses, and 

 the common name refers to the large seed 

 of which it is said that a white flour has 

 been made. The tufts of long basal leaves 

 remain green during the winter, and in early 

 spring the slender stems rise (often purple- 

 tinged at the base) bearing short, narrow 

 panicles of a few pale-coloured flowers. 



Slender Mountain Rice {Oryiopsis pun- 

 gens) is another grass of early spring, and, 

 although it is usually less common than the 

 other species, it may be looked for near open 

 woods and on dry and rocky soil. The 



99 



WMte-grained Mountain Rice 

 Oryzopsis asperifolia 



