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Ornamental Bamboos And Grasses |
Cladium mariscus produces leafy stems from three to five
feet high, the edges of the grass being finely and sharply cut.
Coix lacryma-Jobi is known as 'Job's Tears' and is much in
demand for including in indoor floral decorations. Although
the flowers are insignificant the shiny seeds hang in such a
way as to suggest tear-drops. It will grow up to two and a half
feet high and is ideal for the shallow water of an indoor pool.
Cortaderia is the Pampas Grass which is often listed as
gyncrium. This plant introduces a stately, rather exotic
appearance to the water garden or stream. Each plant should
be placed so that it can be seen separately, for crowded among
other subjects its graceful outline will not be seen. An open
but fairly sheltered position is best.
Cortaderia argentea is the best-known species growing up to
six feet high with long silvery-white plumes. A less common
form, roseum, has feathery lavender-coloured plumes.
Cyperus is the name of a large genus of plants which
includes some of the sedge family.
C. alternifolius is the Umbrella Grass, largely used nowa-
days as an indoor plant. It must be wintered inside. Grow-
ing up to two feet high, its flat, grassy leaves develop in the
shape of umbrella heads.
C. congestus is only hardy in congenial sheltered places
where it likes good rooting conditions and to be placed in
shallow water. Its reddish-brown flower heads are twenty-one
to twenty-four inches high.
C. longus is one of our native plants for the water's edge.
The chestnut-coloured flower spikes show up well against the
grassy foliage, two to three and a half feet high.
Elymus glaucus has silvery upright leaves and flower spikes
growing three to three and a half feet high.
Eriophorum is the Cotton Grass. Easy to grow in boggy
conditions, at one time certain species were used commercially.
E. alpinum grows up to ten inches high, the oval flower
heads being of cottony appearance.
E. angustifolium makes neat clumps of rush-like foliage
and upright tufted heads of 'flowers' fifteen inches high.
E. vaginatum forms tufts up to a foot high with rather
stiff leaves and an erect, whitish flower spike.
Glyceria is an excellent waterside grass which however
must be kept restricted to its allotted space. These seeds are
of some value for birds, while the foliage is eaten by animals.
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