Goose Grass

Puccinellia maritima (Huds.) Parl.

These grasses, which in their spikelets bear a resemblance to the Manna-grasses, are found only on the salt marshes and beaches.

They are slender grasses blossoming in midsummer and later when the beautiful sea-pink, or rose of Plymouth, blooms in salt meadows, and the marsh rosemary, growing to the water's edge, colours the sand with a mist of lavender flowers, like purple spray borne inland on the waves.

Goose-grass. Sea Spear-grass. Puccinellia maritima (Huds.) Parl.

Perennial, from rootstocks.

Stein 8'-24' tall, slender, erect or spreading at base. Ligule short. Leaves 1/2'-5' long, 1" wide or less, flat or involute.

Panicle 2'-6' long, narrow, branches short. Spikelets 3-10-flowered, 3"-6" long, narrow. Outer scales unequal, obtuse or acute; flowering scales broad, obtuse, nerves very obscure; palets nearly as long as flowering scales. Stamens 3.

Salt marshes and sea beaches. July and August.

Labrador to New Jersey, also on the Pacific Coast.