Family: Poaceae
boreal glyceria, boreal manna grass, northern manna grass
[Panicularia borealis Nash]
Robert W. Freckmann
Robert W. Freckmann
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Glyceria: Greek for "sweet" from taste of the grain
Plants: weakly erect perennial, >40" tall, semi-aquatic, emergent grass, sprawling clumps from rooting nodes; stems with nodes
Leaves: narrow, closed sheath; some leaves floating in plants growing in water; fine hairs on upper surface
Flowers: rounded, ridged, smooth lemmas with tips and edges thin and brittle; inflorescence thin spike with several spikelets
Habitat: wet; shallows less than 40" deep, shores
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: weakly erect perennial, >40" tall, semi-aquatic, emergent grass, sprawling clumps from rooting nodes; stems with nodes
Leaves: narrow, closed sheath; some leaves floating in plants growing in water; fine hairs on upper surface
Flowers: rounded, ridged, smooth lemmas with tips and edges thin and brittle; inflorescence thin spike with several spikelets
Habitat: wet; shallows less than 40" deep, shores
Conservation Status: Native
Lakeshores, lake swales, bogs, sloughs, beaver meadows, streams, ponds, sedge meadows, willow thickets, coastal wetlands, boreal rich fens, marshes, ditches, wet rock outcrops along rivers and waterfalls, wet-mesic forests of white cedar-black ash, silver maple-elm-box elder. This species often grows submerged with floating leaves. Found primarily in the northern half of the state but also in the south-central and southeastern counties; mostly absent from the east-central counties and the Driftless Area.
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 8, Wetland Indicator = OBL USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Grasses of Iowa: Detailed photographs, descriptions, maps
Robert W. Freckmann
