GHAMINA. 
5 
short, fimbriate. Leaves with their apices rarely extending to the top 
of the second sheath above them, shorter than the spikes, broadly 
linear, flat, smooth, with closely-placed thick glaucous cartilaginous 
ribs on the face, dark green and shining on the back. Spikes 2, rarely 
3 or 4, terminal, approximate sessile, or the upper ones shortly stalked, 
erect, closely applied to each other by their backs, unilateral; rachis 
flexuous, flattened on the back, smooth, extending beyond the base of 
the uppermost spikelet, but not conspicuously exceeding and often 
falling short of its glumes. Spikelets 6 to 10 in each spike, erect, 
alternate, about half their own length apart, sessile, linear-lanceolate. 
Glumes unequal, pubescent, the lower one about two-thirds the 
length of the upper, acuminate ; the upper one bidentate, with a very 
short terminal awn, 1-ribbed, coarsely and shortly ciliated on the keel. 
In muddy salt marshes covered at high water, especially near the 
mouths of tidal rivers. Rather local, but abundant in many places 
on the south and east coast from Devon to Lincoln. 
England. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 
Root extensively creeping, producing the stems in small tufts. 
Flowering stems 6 inches to 1 foot high, rarely more, though I have 
seen specimens 2 feet high. Stem rather succulent, easily broken, its 
knots covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves 2 to 6 inches long by ^ to 
i inch broad, erect, stiff but not tough. Spikes 2 to inches long, 
all so closely applied that they give the inflorescence the appearance 
of a single spike ; this is particularly the case when there are only 2 
spikes. Spikelets | to f inch long, pale yellowish-ohve. Anthers yel- 
lowish-white. Stigmas very conspicuous when protruded, nearly white. 
Plant with a strong odour resembling that of the brackish water Algsd, 
The leaves are quite flat when the plant is growing, but become in- 
volute as they dry, and at length are pungent at the apices. They 
are so readily detached from the sheaths, that by the time the plant 
is in flower most of the lower sheaths have lost their laminae. 
SPECIES II.— S PARTINA ALTERNIPLORA. L.-n,eL 
Tlaj-e MDCLXXXVin. 
Rootsti.>ck r:ither stout, extensively creeping. Stem erect from the 
base, leaf\- to the top, srour. ^oft, smooth. Sheaths smooth, not arti- 
c-uiurod witli the leaves : li- ale very short, composed of short hairs. 
Twin-spiked Cord- Grass. 
French, S£arfii>>j rol<le. 
Crrati. ]\ran. Bot. N.TJ.S. ed. v. p. 620. 
KC\ Fl. Fr, Vol V. p. 279. 
