MARRAM-GRASS : MAT-GRASS 



533 



bulk of especially heavy hay of high nutritive value. On thin 

 dry soils, the lower nodes of its stems became thickened and the 

 whole plant is then of little value. 



As it grows hard and fibrous when allowed 

 to ripen its seed it should be cut before the 

 spikes are out of the leaf-sheaths. Unlike 

 foxtail it yields little aftermath. As the seed 

 is especially cheap and the yield and nutri- 

 tive value good, it should form a constituent 

 of all leys on land which is at all stiff. 



Genus Ammophila [Psammd). 



Panicles spike-like, spikelets large, one- 

 flowered, compressed : empty glumes two, 

 narrow, awnless, equal or exceeding the 

 flowering glume in length ; flowering glume 

 with silky hairs at the base and a very short 

 awn. 



Marram-Grass : Mat-Grass (Ammophila 

 arundinacea Host.). — A perennial grass which 



, , , ^ , Fig. 173. — j4 , Spike-like 



grows on dry sandy sea-shores. Its stems and panicle of Timothy or 



, , .... 1.1 Catstail (natural size). 



leavesarestrong,rigid,andsomewhatglaucous, b. Base of leaf-biade 

 the former from 2 to 3 feet high ; panicles ^"c, 'spikdet (twice nat- 

 generally 3 to 4 inches long, cylindrical. "^ ^'"'" 



It possesses an extensive system of rhizomes which spread 

 through loose sands in all directions, and bind them into more 

 or less solid banks capable of resisting the action of the waves. 

 By its action the sea is prevented from encroaching upon the 

 land, and for this service it is specially protected by Act of 

 Parliament. 



Genus Agrostis. 



Panicle spreading ; spikelets one-flowered, very small ; empty 

 glumes two, unequal, larger than the flowering glume, awnless ; 

 flowering glume either awnless, or with a slender dorsal awn, 



