448 



GRAMINEiE. 



Spartina. 



1. Spartina cynosuroides, Willd. (Plate CLII1.) Tall Marsh- grass. 



Spikes numerous (8-40), pedunculate, scattered, forming a long secund panicle ; leaves 

 very long, tapering to a filiform extremity, at first flat, but at length more or less convolute ; 

 glumes serrulate on the keel, with a long slender point ; style 2-cleft at the summit. — Willd. 

 enum. 1. p. 80 ; Bigel. jl. Bost. p. 24; Torr. fl.l.p.69; Trin. diss. 1. p. 163; Beck, 

 hot. p. 405; Darlingt. jl. Cest. p. 61 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 278. S. polystachya, Muhl. 

 gram. p. 53. Dactylis cynosuroides, Linn. sp. 1. p. 71. Trachynotia cynosuroides and 

 polystachya, Michx. Jl. I. p. 64. Limnetis cynosuroides and polystachya, Pers. syn. 1. 

 p. 72; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 59. 



Culm 3-8 feet high, often nearly an inch in diameter at the base, terete. Leaves 1-2 

 feet or more in length, 4-8 lines wide, at first flat, but finally (especially in dry weather) 

 convolute ; sheaths smooth : ligule bearded. Spikes linear, about 3 inches long, scattered or 

 alternate ; the scabrous peduncles 6-10 lines long, spreading at maturity. Spikelets arranged 

 on two sides of a depressed triangular rachis. Glumes linear-lanceolate, strongly spinulose 

 on the keel ; the lower narrower and sometimes very short : upper one twice or three times 

 as long as the lower, tapering to a long rough subulate point. Paleas mostly longer than 

 the lower glume, nearly equal ; the lower one spinulose on the keel : upper are only a little 

 rough toward the summit. Stamens 3 : anthers large, linear, yellow. Styles connate except 

 near the summit. Caryopsis linear-oblong, compressed. 



Salt marshes, and along the seacoast ; also on the borders of fresh water rivers ar:d lakes. 

 Fl. August. Most authors regard <S. polystachya as a distinct species from S. cynosuroides ; 

 but after a new and careful examination of many specimens of these plants from various 

 localities, I have concluded to let them remain as they stand in my Flora of the Northern and 

 Middle States. 



2. Spartina juncea, Willd. Rush-like Marsh-grass. 



Leaves distichous, convolute, spreading ; spikes few (1-3, rarely 4 or 5), on smooth 

 peduncles ; glumes rough on the keel ; palea nearly smooth ; styles distinct almost to the 

 base. — Willd. enum. 1. p. 81 ; Muhl. gram. p. 54 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 94 ; Torr. Jl. 1. p. 70 ; 

 Bigel. Jl. Bost. p. 24; Trin. diss. 1. p. 162; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 279. S. pumila, Roth. 

 Trachynotia juncea, Michx. Jl. 1. p. 64. Limnetis juncea, Pers. syn. 1. p. 72 ; Pursh, fl. 

 1. p. 59. 



Rhizoma creeping, very long. Culm 1 -2 feet high, erect, terete, rigid, smooth. Leaves 

 6-10 inches long, smooth, very slender : sheaths close, with a bearded ring at the throat. 

 Spikes mostly 3 ; the lowest distinctly pedunculate, about an inch and a half long. Glumes 

 very unequal ; the lower one linear, scarcely one-third of the upper, nearly smooth ; the upper 

 linear-lanceolate, serrulate on the keel. Paleas lanceolate, rather obtuse : lower one a little 

 rough on the keel ; (he upper smoothish. Stamens 3 : anthers large, linear. Styles elon- 

 gated, distinct except near the base. 



Salt marshes, and on the sandy shores of rivers near the salt water. Fl. July - August. 

 This grass forms a portion of our salt hay. 



