3«X) Bulletin No. 205 [March, 



May, 1898; West Chicago, Vvibach, July, 1898. jackson co. Without locality, 

 Lapham. mchenry co. Without locality, Brendel. marion co. Without local- 

 ity, M. S. Bebh in 1860. wabash co. Without locality, Shearer, Apr., 1895 ; Mt. 

 Carmel, Trelease and Schneck, May, 1888. winnebago co. Without locality, M. 

 S. Bell), May, 1859. 



Poa chapmaniana Sciibn. 

 Chapman's Spear Grass (Fig. 232) 



Culms in tufts, 2 to 12 inches tall, cylindrical, erect; sheaths close, 

 smooth ; blades 1 to 4 inches long, smooth ; spikelets 3- to 7-flowered, 3 

 to 5 mm. long ; lemmas webbed at the base, 5-nerved, the intermediate 

 nerves obscure, the others sometimes pubescent near base. 



This species was not distinguished from P. annua by the earlier 

 botanists of the state. Brendel seems first to have noticed the differ- 

 ence, stating it. was an annual like P. annua with a spikelet like that 

 of P. pratensis. Schneck spoke of it as a variety of P. annua that pre- 

 ferred dry soil in worn-out fields. It is a very distinct species, easily 

 separated from P. annua. It also is a winter annual. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. champaiox (O. Champaign, 

 Clinton, May, 1899; Urhana, Burrill, Jiine, 1880. christian co. Taylorville, 

 Andrews, May, 1894 and 1899. Effingham co. Pxlgewood, Eolden, Mav, 1898. 

 MARION CO. Without locality, M. S. Beib in 1861; Salem, M. S. Belh ; Odin, 

 Greene in 1908. menard co. Without locality, Hall in 1861. peoria co. Peo- 

 ria, Brendel. June, 18.59 and 1860. st. clair co. Without locality. Brendel: 

 Mascontah. Wclsch. wabash CO. Without locality, SchnecTc, May, 1897; without 

 locality, Shearer; Mt. Carmel. Schnecl', May, 1904; Mt. Carmel, Trelcase and 

 Schnecl; May, 1888. 



Poa compressa L. 



Canada Blue Grass. Wire Grass (Fig. 233) 



Lapham '57, 546, 579; Patterson '76, 51; Flagg '78, 281; Brendel '87, 64; 

 Higley and Eaddin '91, 144; Huett '97, 130; Cowles '00, 91, 158, 176; Gleason 

 '10, 149; Gates '12, 355; Sherff '13, 595. 



Culms strongly flattened, usually bent at the base and arising from 

 long, running rootstoeks ; sheaths loose, smooth ; blades 1 to 4 inches 

 long, rough above ; panicles narrow, densely flowered ; spikelets vari- 

 ;>ble as to size, 3- to 9-flowered, 4 to 6 mm. long, usually with a bronze 

 tinge ; lemmas webbed at base, 2 to 2.5 mm. long, obscurely nerved, the 

 midnerve usually pubescent about to the middle, the others only at the 

 base. 



Poa compressa is one of our most common grasses, altho it was 

 introduced from Europe. It has made its way Into all the patches of 

 original prairie examined, and seems to be found thruout the state. 

 When growing, it is easily recognized by the flat stem and long root- 

 stocks. It makes a close, dense sod and is often used as a lawn grass, 

 especially where there is competition Avith the crab grasses, etc., which 

 often drive out the Kentucky blue grass, more commonly used in 

 lawns. It is also a valuable pasture grass. 



