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GRASSES OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Heather Stewart, Richard Hebda Major Groups of Grasses Table of Contents Glossary Cinna Woodreed Cinna has three species in the America's, and, although palatable, it occurs in too small amounts to be of value as forage. Cinna latifolia (Trevir.) Griseb. Wood Reedgrass Nodding Woodreed Plant: Cinna latifolia is a native species that grows to 60-200 cm tall. It is a perennial with rhizomes and a nodding flowerhead. Leaves and Stem: The base of the stem is sometimes bulbous. The soft, thin leaves are 7-15 mm wide in the middle and narrow abruptly to a sharp tip. The leaves stand at right angles to the stem. The sheaths are open, and there are no auricles. Ligules are 3-8 mm long, hairy and often have a tattered edge. This species is sweetly scented. Flowerhead and Flowers: The flowerhead is open, drooping and 15-30 cm long. One-flowered spikelets hang from the ends of the drooping branches. The narrow glumes are strongly keeled and about the same size. The strongly flattened lemma is about the same length as the glumes, and may or may not have a short awn. Spikelets break off at the base of the glumes -- not above the glumes as in many grasses -- leaving behind naked branches at maturity. Habitat: Wood Reedgrass grows in moist meadows, woods and along streams, especially in disturbed sites. This species occurs in the Columbia Basin along the Bull River, in Mount Revelstoke National Park and Yoho National Park. Similar Species: The tall stature, drooping flowerhead and wide leaves distinguish this species clearly.

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