122 Dr. R. Parnell on a new Species of Poa# 



an excursion with his pupils in July last. Specimens of it 

 were also collected by him in August last, on the mountains 

 of Clova in Forfarshire. The plant grows on micaceous soil, 

 at an elevation varying from 2000 to 2500 feet above the level 

 of the sea. It has been named in honour of its discoverer, 

 and the following are the characters by which it is distin- 

 guished : — 



Poa Balfouri, Parnell. St. John's Meadow-grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets slightly webbed. Ligule promi- 

 nent, obtuse. Upper leaf nearly as long as its sheath. Outer 

 palea five-ribbed. Stem compressed. 

 Description. — It grows from three to fifteen inches high: 

 the root is perennial, creeping. Stem erect, compressed, fur- 

 nished with a few minute spiculae, with their points directed 

 upwards, producing a slight roughness to the touch ; bearing 

 three or four leaves, with scarcely smooth sheaths ; the upper 

 sheath a very little longer than its leaf, crowned with a pro- 

 minent obtuse ligule (PL V. fig. 4.) ; second sheath shorter than 

 its leaf, covering the upper joint. Joints three, situated on the 

 lowest third of the stem. Leaves confined to the lower part, 

 leaving nearly two-thirds of the stem naked ; all the leaves of 

 about equal length, short, lanceolate, roughest on the upper 

 surface and edges, smooth below. Inflorescence, a simple or 

 compound panicle. Panicle erect, from one to three inches 

 long, spreading when luxuriant ; branches slender, rough, the 

 lower ones mostly in pairs. Spikelets erect, ovate, of three 

 awnless florets, the summit of the lowermost floret on a level 

 with the apex of the large glume of the calyx ; the three or 

 four uppermost spikelets arising from the rachis, the lower 

 ones on lateral branches. Calyx of two unequal acute glumes 

 (fig. 1.), three-ribbed, the dorsal rib minutely toothed on the 

 upper third, margins membranous. Florets of two paleae 

 (fig. 2.). The outer palea of lowermost floret equal in length 

 to the large glume of the calyx, five-ribbed ; the rib on each 

 side of the dorsal rib not hairy, and rather indistinct (unless 

 the palea be held between the lens and light) ; lower half of 

 the dorsal and marginal ribs hairy ; base of the two lowermost 

 florets furnished with three or four long, silky, convoluted 

 hairs, which seem but slightly attached to the calyx. Inner 

 palea about equal in length to the outer palea, with two green 

 marginal ribs minutely fringed. Pedicel of second floret slightly 

 hairy. Filaments three. Anthers notched at each extremity. 

 Ovary obovate. Styles two, distinct. Stipules feathery. Scales 

 acute, notched (PL V. fig. 5.). 



Dr. Balfour collected two varieties of the grass, one, var. 

 rigida, short and stout, from 3 to 5 inches high, with a short 



