Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Poaceae / Gramineae ⟩ Glyceria maxima / reed sweet-grass

Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb.

reed sweet-grass (Poaceae / Gramineae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Glyceria maxima is a tall, robust grass that grows at the water’s edge; in much of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it is only found along the larger waterways.

Inkpen (VC22: Berkshire); 2020-07-03

 reed sweet-grass / Glyceria maxima: _Glyceria maxima_ is a tall, robust grass that grows at the water’s edge; in much of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it is only found along the larger waterways.

The stems of Glyceria maxima can be much thicker than those of our other Glyceria species and grow upright.

Inkpen (VC22: Berkshire); 2020-07-03

 reed sweet-grass / Glyceria maxima: The stems of _Glyceria maxima_ can be much thicker than those of our other _Glyceria_ species and grow upright.

The spikelets of Glyceria maxima have 4–10 flowers with blunt lemmas.

Inkpen (VC22: Berkshire); 2020-07-03

 reed sweet-grass / Glyceria maxima: The spikelets of _Glyceria maxima_ have 4–10 flowers with blunt lemmas.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne