THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 37 



32. Glyceria aquatica, Smith. 



Gly-ce-ri-a a-quatf-i-ca. 



PLATE XV. 



Common Names. Reed Meadow Grass, White Spear Grass. 



Stems erect and stout, from three to five feet high ; leaves a foot 

 or more long and often half an inch wide. Panicle much branched, 

 from eight to fifteen inches long, the numerous branches ascending 

 and spreading with age ; spikelets oblong, from five to nine-flowered, 

 usually purplish ; flowering glume entire and obtuse. 



Common in wet grounds. Flowers in July. 



It is said that this grass is liked b} T cattle when made into ha}*. 



Specimens from Vermont were analyzed at the Department of 

 Agriculture and gave ash 7.30, fat 2.20, nitrogen-free extract 56.77, 

 crude fiber 25.60, albuminoids 8.13. 



33. Glyceria fluitans, R. Brown. 

 Gly-ce-ria Jlu'-i-tans. 



Common Names. Floating Manna Grass, Common Manna Grass. 



Stems erect or ascending, compressed, from three to five feet 

 high ; leaves from eight to twelve inches long, smooth and often 

 floating on the surface of the water, when young. Panicle con- 

 tracted, from eight to twelve inches long, the lower part somewhat 

 concealed by the sheath of the upper leaf. Spikelets from seven to 

 thirteen-flowered ; flowering glume oblong, obtuse, or the scarious 

 tip somewhat acutish, entire or obscurely three-lobed, usualh' rather 

 longer than the blunt palea. 



Common in shallow water on the margins of ponds and rivers. 

 Flowers from June to August. It is said that this grass will bear 

 cultivation in moderately dr} T grounds. There is great difference 

 of opinion with respect to the value of this grass ; some state that it 

 is relished by cattle, while others deny this. It is evident that there 

 is need of more careful observation and experiment before we can 

 form opinions of its value. 



