Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Brown

Graminae

Synonyms

Common names

Floating sweet-grass (English), Glycérie flottante (French), Flutender schwaden (German).

Description

Perennial plants, medium size, hairless, stoloniferous. Stems horizontal then ascendent,  40 - 120 cm high. Blade folded when young. Blade large (5 - 10 mm), flat, a little bit rough. Ligule long (5 - 15 mm) and acute or rounded on the top. No auricles. Panicle-like inflorescence, loose, spreading, contracted after flowering. Spikelets 5 -14 - flowered, 18 - 32 mim long, cylindrical or slightly compressed. The weight of 1000 seeds is about 1.2 g (average seeds). Chromosome number: 2n = 40.

Temperature

Large climate range.

Soil

Optimum on very wet or boggy soils, on riversides. It can cover the surface of ponds or rivers by its stems and its floating leaves. Optimum on alluvial or peat soils, nutrient-rich but large range. It tolerates strongly acid soils.

Distribution

Native to Europe, West Asia and East of North America. From the lowlands up to high elevations in mountain areas.

References