Flora of North America species comparison

Glyceria includes approximately 35 species, all of which grow in wet areas. All but five species are native to the Northern Hemisphere. The genus is represented in the Flora region by 13 native and 3 introduced species, as well as 3 named hybrids. One additional European species, G. notata, is included in this treatment because it has been reported to be present in the region.

All native species of Glyceria are palatable to livestock. They are rarely sufficiently abundant to be important forage species. Some grow in areas that are soon degraded by grazing. Glyceria maxima can cause cyanide poisoning in cattle. Species in sects. Striatae and Hydropoa have potential as ornamentals.

Glyceria resembles Puccinellia in the structure of its spikelets and its preference for wet habitats; it differs in its inability to tolerate highly alkaline soils, and its usually more flexuous panicle branches, closed leaf sheaths, and single-veined upper glumes. Some species are apt to be confused with Torreyochloa pallida, another species associated with wet habitats but one that, like Puccinellia, has open leaf sheaths. Glyceria includes several species that appear to intergrade. In some cases, the distinctions between such taxa are more evident in the field, particularly when they are sympatric. Recognition of such taxa at the specific level is merited unless it can be shown that all the distinctions between them are inherited as a group.

The three named North American hybrids are Glyceria xgatineauensis Bowden, G. xottawensis Bowden, and G. ×occidentalis (Piper) J.C. Nelson. The first two were named as hybrids; they are not included in the key and are mentioned only briefly in the descriptions. Glyceria ×occidentalis has hitherto been treated as a species. Studies finished shortly before completion of this volume indicate that it, too, consists of hybrids (Whipple et al. [in press]). It is included in the key and provided with a full description.

Culm thickness is measured near midlength of the basal internode; it does not include leaf sheaths. Unless otherwise stated, ligule measurements reflect both the basal and upper leaves. Ligules of the basal leaves are usually shorter than, but similar in shape and texture to, those of the upper leaves. The number of spikelets on a branch is counted on the longest primary branches, and includes all the spikelets on the secondary (and higher order) branches of the primary branch. Pedicel lengths are measured for lateral spikelets on a branch, not the terminal spikelet. Lemma characteristics are based on the lowest lemmas of most spikelets in a panicle. There is often, unfortunately, considerable variation within a panicle.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)