Perennial. — Flowers in June and July. 
Root jointed, extensively creeping, often extending to a great 
many feet. Plant glaucous. Culms ascending, 2 or 3 feet high, 
cylindrical, jointed, finely striated, very smooth, almost solid. 
Leaves very long, narrow, rigid, sharp-pointed, their margins rolled 
in so as to give them the appearance of rush-leaves ; furrowed, 
whitish, and pubescent above (see fig. 5.) ; dark-green, and smooth 
beneath. Sheaths lightish-brown, striated, nearly or quite smooth. 
Stipula (ligula) membranous, spear-shaped, pointed, nearly an 
inch long, mostly divided, or torn. Panicle upright, quite close, 
cylindrical, tapering a little at each end, straw-coloured, many- 
flowered, and so perfectly resembling a spike, that, without in- 
spection, it might be mistaken for one ; its branches short, upright, 
not much divided, close-pressed, angular, and rough. Glumes 
(see figs. 1 & 2.) nearly equal, spear-shaped, compressed, with a 
rough keel ; the inner one rather the largest, with a rib at each 
side ; outer one with a minute point below the summit. Palece 
(see figs. 1 & 3.) compressed, roughish, dull, of the same texture 
as the glumes, but rather smaller, and more ribbed, the outer one 
bearing a small, short, dorsal awn , below the top. Hairs (see fig. 3.) 
chiefly attached to the inner palea, and scarcely half its length. 
Nectary (see fig. 4.) longer than the germen. Styles (see fig. 4.) 
distinct, upright. Stigmas long, cylindrical, feathery. Seed oblong, 
pointed at the upper end. 
This grass grows only on the driest sea-shores, where it is of the greatest 
utility, particularly when combined with the Elymus arenarius, in binding the 
sands of the sea-shore, and thereby raising a natural barrier the most lasting 
against the encroachments of the ocean upon the land ; and also in preventing 
the wind from dispersing the sand over the adjoining fields, which is not unfre- 
quently the case where this plant is wanting. Many a fertile acre has been 
covered with sand and rendered useless, which might have been prevented by 
sowing the seeds, or by planting small bundles of this plant at distances of about 
a foot and a half apart ; a method introduced by Mr. Macleod, of Harris, in 
the Hebrides of Scotland, and tried extensively on his estate. For some interest- 
ing illustrations of its utility in this respect, see Cuvier’s Essay on the Theory 
of the Earth , (5th edit.) p. 28, and pp. 368 — 375. Mr. Woodward says, it is 
planted on some of the flat coasts of Norfolk to repel the sea, and is also suitable 
to the light lands of that county. He observes, that as soon as it takes root a 
sand-hill gathers round it, and thinks that some of our sandy cliff's may have 
thus originated. It is also supposed that this plant, together with a few others 
which seem designed by nature to bind the loose sands of the sea-shore by their 
creeping roots, or stolones, are the means of forming the low round-topped hills, 
called Links, along a considerable part of our northern coasts. Mr. Sinclair 
observes, so far back as the reign of William the Third, the important value of 
this grass, and Elymus arenarius, was so well appreciated as to induce the 
Scottish Parliamentof that period to pass an act for their preservation on the sea- 
coasts of Scotland. And these provisions were, by the British Parliament, in 
the reign of George the Second, followed up by further enactments, extending 
the operation of the Scottish law to the coasts of England, and imposing further 
penalties for its inviolability; so that it' was rendered penal, not only for any 
individual (without even excepting the lord of the manor) to cut the bent, but for 
any one to be in possession of any within eight miles of the coast. The inha- 
bitants of Newborough, in Anglesey, subsist chiefly by manufacturing this 
Reed into mats and ropes. It also makes excellent floor-brushes. In the outer 
Hebrides it is made into ropes for various uses, mats for pack-saddles, bags, mats, 
and vessels for preparing and keeping grain and meal; and, lastly, into hats. 
