CLASS ril. ORDER II.] POA. 113 



mity. Glumellules small, acute. Anthers yellow, Stujmas fea- 

 thery. 



Habitat. — On the banks of streams, drains, and swampy situations ; 

 common. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



This, though a large coarse grass, is eaten by cattle with an apparent 

 relish, and contains a large proportion of nutritive matter. It forms 

 the principal winter provender in some parts of the fens of Lincolnshire 

 and Cambridgeshire, where it grows with so great rapidity and luxu- 

 riance, that it is sometimes mown three times during the sunJraer. Its 

 quick growth and rapid wide-spreading stems, render it exceedingly 

 troublesome in drains and rivers ; so much so in the Isle of Ely, we 

 are informed by Mr. Curtis, as to render it necessarj to cleanse them 

 with an instrument called a bear — a sort of roller, with numerous sharp 

 projecting pieces of iron, which is dragged up and down the river, to 

 cut or tear up the roots. 



2. P.flu'itans, Scop. (Fig. 140.) floating Meadow-grass. Panicle 

 long, nearly erect, scarcely branched ; florets numerous, seven- 

 ribbed, with short intermediate ones at the base ; leaves linear, 

 acute. 

 English Botany, t. 1520.— Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 43.— 

 Glyce'riaflu'itans, English Flora, vol. i. p. 117. — Lindley, Synopsis, 

 p. 315. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburn. p. 349. — Fes'tuca flti'itans, 

 Linn. 



Root with long, creeping, prostrate stems, thick, succulent, often 

 partly floating in water, putting out roots and stems from the joints ; 

 upper part erect, from one to three feet long, smooth, striated, leafy. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, flat, roughish, the lower ones floating 

 on the surface of water. Sheaths long, smooth, finely striated, close, 

 and slightly compressed. Ligtila oblong, acute, often torn. Inflores- 

 cence a very long, nearly erect, slender panicle, branched mostly at the 

 base, and spreading ; the upper spikelets on short, simple stalks, and 

 erect. Spikelets linear, cylindrical, or slightly compressed. Glmnes 

 unequal, thin, membranous, each with a single green rib. Florets from 

 eight to twelve. Glumelles equal ; the outer valve acute, or obtuse, 

 membranous towards the extremity, minutely hairy, seven-ribbed, with 

 short intermediate ones between them ; inner membranous, two-ribbed, 

 the margins inflexed, notched at the extremity. Glumellula of one 

 thick piece. Anthers small, yellow. Stigmas feathery. Seed oblong, 

 furrowed on one side. 



Habitat. — Pools, slow streams, and wet places; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering from July to September. 



This grass is of little or no agricultural utility. The seeds are pur- 

 chased in the shops under the name of manna-seeds, and are said to be 



VOL. I. " 



