Southampton rivers, where it flowers throughout the months
of August and September.
A strong reed-like grass with a very fetid odour resembling
that ofphosphuretted hydrogen. Root perennial, creeping,
with very long jointed runners, and densely matted fibres
at the crown. Culms one or more from the same root,
mostly quite upright, or very slightly ascending, from
eighteen inches to two or three feet in height, clothed for
some distance upwards with the withered persistent leaves
of earlier growth. Leaves a foot or more in length, six to
ten lines in breadth, alternate, rather rigid and erect, quite
flat to within an inch or two of the point, where the edges
are involute, of a bright pleasant green ; the uppermost,
and often that immediately below it reaching beyond the
flower-spikes, more rarely equalling the latter, but never
shorter*. No distinct articulation of the leaf with its
sheath as in S. stricta, so that it is not disposed to separate
in decay, as is invariably the case in the latter, the
lower leaves of which are deciduous, while on the other
hand those of S. alterniflora are of necessity as constantly
persistent. In our present species too the bases of the leaves
are suddenly expanded into their full breadth, and do not
taper gradually into the sheath. Ligule extremely short.
Spikes four to thirteen, mostly six or eight, closely united
into a dense, coarctate, compound spike, or rather panicle.
Florets like those of S. stricta, but devoid of all pubescence,
except occasionally and in a slight degree. Larger calyx-
glume with about three strong lateral ribs. Rachis considerably
produced beyond the terminal floret into an awnlike
point. Anthers at first pale yellowish white, afterwards
brown. Styles cohering (not truly united) for a great part
of their length. Seed oblong, seldom or never perfected.
The greatly larger size, more fibrous root, numerous
spikes, unjointed leaf bases, strongly ribbed calyx, the produced
rachis, and the leaves exceeding the flower-spikes in
length, added to the brighter hue of the whole plant, are
so many marks to distinguish Spartina alterniflora from our
other British species. In spite ofits rank smell, it is greedily
devoured by pigs and horses, and is extensively used both
as litter for cattle and for thatching by the poorer classes
at Southampton.—W m. A rnold B romf ie l d , M.D.
* Excepting in young immature specimens.