88 THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Phragmites communis. (Eeed grass.) 



A tall, coarse, perennial grass, growing on the borders of ponds and 

 streams, almost rivaling sorghum in luxuriance. It attains a height of 

 6 to 10 feet; the culms sometimes an inch in diameter, and leaves an inch 

 or two in width. The panicle is from 9 to 15 inches long, loose but not 

 much spreading, of an oblong or lanceolate form and slightly nodding. 

 The branches are very numerous, irregularly whorled, 4 to 8 inches long, 

 much subdivided, and x>i"ofusely flowering. The larger panicles form 

 very ornamental plumes, almost equal to those of Arundo donax, so 

 much cultivated for ornamental purposes. The spikelets are three to 

 seven flowered, all the flowers except the lowest surrounded by long 

 silky hairs at the base ; the lowest one is either empty or contains only 

 stamens. The lower or empty glumes are thin, lanceolate, keeled, and 

 unequal in size, the upper one being considerably the longer. The flow- 

 ering glumes are membranaceous, narrowly awl shaped, and about as long 

 as the silky hairs. The palets are thin and only half to one- third as 

 long as their glumes. 



This grass is widely distributed in different parts of the globe, and in 

 some countries is put to several uses, as for thatching, for which it is 

 said to be valuable. It is also sometimes used for making light reed 

 fences and screens. Its leaves are too coarse and innutritions for fod- 

 der except when very young. 



Professor Scribner saw in Montana prostrate stems of this grass which 

 were 28 feet long, and some of the upright culms were 10 to 14 feet high. 

 (Plate 87.) 



KcELERiA CRiSTATA. (Orestcd Kceleria.) 



This grass has a very wide diffusion both in this country and in Euroi)e 

 and Asia. It favors dry hills or sandy prairies, and on the great 

 plains is one of the commonest species. It occurs throughout Califor- 

 nia and into Oregon. It varies much in appearance according to the 

 location in which it grows, these variations being so striking that they 

 have been considered ditlerent species, and perhaps two species ought 

 to be admitted. It is perennial, with erect culms usually from 1 to 2 

 feet high, and a spike-like panicle varying from 3 to 6 inches in length 

 and more or less interrupted or lobed at the lower part. When grown 

 in very arid places the culms may be only a foot high, the radical leaves 

 short, and the panicle only 2 inches long. When grown in more favored 

 situations the radical leaves are 18 inches long, the stem 3 feet, and 

 the panicle 6 inches long. The branches of the panicle are, in short, 

 nearly sessile clusters, crowded above, looser and interrupted below. 

 The spikelets are from two to four flowered. The outer glumes are a 

 little shorter than the spikelets, lanceolate, acute, compressed. The 

 flowering glumes are similar, membranaceous, acute, or mucronate. 

 The palet is of nearly equal length, thinner and two-toothed at the apex. 

 The flowers, panicle, culm, and leaves are usually more or less softly 

 hairy. It is readily eaten by cattle. (Plate 88.) 



