LYME-GRASS (itnc. obsolete spelling of hinge -f- grass), Elymus. A genus of grasses of which there are about 30 species. natives of the temperate and colder regions of the Northern Heniisphere. The sea lyme-grass ( Elym as arena rius), frequent on the sandy shores of various parts of Europe, and on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North Am•rica, is a coarse, grayish grass, often three or four feet high, with spiny-pointed leaves and upright close spikes; a perennial with creeping roots. very useful in binding the sand. In Ireland the seed. which is large. is collected and ground into meal, which is made into porridge or soft thin cakes. and is esteemed a great delicacy. Its stems are used in various countries for thatch. A closely allied species or a variety. called giant lyme-grass (E/ym us gigantens), is often sown in Holland, being preferred for its more vigorous growth.
Various expedient: are adopted to secure the growth of lyme-grass in very loose sands, as the laying down of pieces of turf, a gradual advance ment from the margin of the sand, etc. The soft sea lyme-grass (E/y/n us mollis) is common about the Great Lakes, on the Atlantic, and along the Pacific Ocean. from Oregon to Alaska. It is useful as a sand-binding grass, as a thatch, and in Alaska it has been very successfully em! played as silage for cattle. There are several species indigenous to the Rocky :%lountain re gion that are extensively used (or hay. The principal species are Elymns emalensatus and Etyin us Maeonnii. They grow in wet meadows and along streams. the first species often at taining a height of 5 to 10 feet. the other from 2 to 4 feet. When used for hay they must be cut while young. The seeds are used for fool by the Indians.