Hoot creeping, and producing from its joints many long, whitd-, 
shining fibres. Culms (stems), if growing in water, partly floating, 
if not, prostrate towards the base, rooting at the joints, the rest 
ascending, from 1 to 2 feet or more long, branched, very leafy, 
round, hollow, smooth, tender. Leaves strap-shaped, nearly flat, 
bluntish, flaccid, often floating, bright green, smooth, except at the 
margins . Sheaths lax, slightly compressed, smooth, with a promi- 
nent, broad, rather pointed, membranous stipula ( ligula ). Panicle 
4 or 5 inches long, and 2 or 3 inches broad when expanded, up- 
right, smooth, branched ; branches spreading, unequal, aggregate, 
angular, beginning to flower before the lower part is quite emerged 
from the sheath of the uppermost leaf. Spihelets (see fig. 1.) oblong, 
reddish-brown, generally containing two florets. Glumes ( calyx- 
valves ) (fig. 2.) small, unequal, abrupt, notched, ribbed at the lower 
part, purplish, smooth. Florets (see fig. 3.) much longer than the 
glumes, one sessile, the other on a short stalk ; their paleat ( valves ) 
oblong, concave, brownish, with green ribs, diaphanous at the 
point. Filaments hair-like, as long as the corolla. Anthers pro- 
minent, oblong, yellow. — The flowers are said to abound with honey. 
A variety of this, not more than from 3 to 5 inches high, has been 
found near Liverpool, and at Parkgate, Cheshire. “ This diminu- 
tive habit is occasioned by the plant being deprived of its requisite 
supply of water, when growing on dry land.” Withering. 
Mr. Graves says, the Catabrosa aquatica is the sweetest of all 
the British Grasses ; but from Mr. Sinclair’s experiments it ap- 
pears that there are several species of grass which contain more 
sugar, in proportion to the other ingredients which compose their 
nutritious matter, as the Glyceria jluitans, Elymus arenarius, Poa 
nemoralis angustif olia, and Poa aquatica. Cattle are very fond 
of it, and from its great sweetness it is sought out by them in the 
Summer months, in preference to almost every other kind ; but as 
it is an aquatic species, and, with respect to its uses in rural 
(Economy, very far inferior to the Flote Meadow-grass ( Glyceria 
jluitans), it is, consequently, not worth cultivating for fodder. — 
Water-fowl are very fond of the young sweet shoots, and also of 
the seeds ; and Mr. Salisbury thinks it might be introduced into 
decoys and other places with good effect. Pulling up the plants, 
and throwing them into the water with a weight tied to them, he 
says, is the best mode of introducing it. The seeds will not vegetate 
unless they are kept very moist. 
“ When life 
Hath half become a weariness, and hope 
Thirsts for serener waters, go abroad 
Upon the paths of Nature, and, when al 
Its voices whisper, and its silent things 
Are breathing the deep beauty of the world. 
Kneel at its simple altar, and the God 
Who hath the living waters shall be there 1” 
N. P. Willis. 
