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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaOld coon rapids photo
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Fowl Manna Grass
Fowl Manna Grass
Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata)

Description: A native perennial with short rootstocks giving rise to erect leafy shoots in a loose tuft; found in moist meadows, pastures and ditches.

Leaves are folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath flattened or elliptical but not prominently keeled, slightly scabrous pale green to purple or at least tinged with purple, prominently cross-nerved, closed almost to the summit but splitting easily due to its membranous nature. Auricles absent. Collar not conspicuous, glabrous, pale, divided by midrib. Ligule thin-membranous, 2 to 4 mm. long, acute, entire. Blade 2.5 to 5 mm. wide, 5 to 25 cm. long, flat or V-shaped, abruptly acute and boat-shaped at tip, glabrous, faintly ridged, pale green, not glossy, with the two median lines conspicuous; the younger blades remain folded for some time and arise at a sharp angle from the shoot; margins scabrous, especially towards the apex.

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Lock and Dam Number 1 from a long distance.  

Did You Know?
At Lake Itasca, the elevation of the Mississippi River is 1,475 feet above sea level. It drops to sea level at the Gulf of Mexico. More than half of that drop occurs within the state of Minnesota.

Last Updated: April 28, 2008 at 10:55 EST