JUNE. 191 
equal, sharp, taper-pointed valves, single-flowered. Corolla of 
two awnless valves included in the calyx, loosely covering the 
seeds, 
PHLEUM PRATENSE. Common Cat’s tail Grass. Common 
in meadows and pastures, and very valuable for hay. When 
this grass grows in a dry soil, or the season is not wet, the 
roots, which are ordinarily composed of fine fibres, become 
covered with little juicy balls like beads, and these supply 
the plant with nourishment till the rain returns. It has a 
long cylindrical spike of flowers, and when the anthers pro- 
ject as they ripen, it is a very pretty object. There are 
several other species; but this is the most common. 
Hotcus MoLiis. Creeping Soft Grass, and 
Hoxcus tanatus. Meadow Soft Grass. Amongst the 
varieties of grass, perhaps this genus may be distinguished 
by the peculiar softness and delicacy of the panicle of flowers. 
It is spreading, upright, rather close, downy, and commonly 
of a delicate light apple-green colour, tinged with pink. 
The latter species is the most common, and is abundant in 
meadows; it is extremely downy and soft. Cattle and 
horses are said to dislike it. 
Poa annua. Annual Meadow Grass. This is the grass 
which is found everywhere in fields, road-sides, walks, and, 
