vil] FLORAL CHARACTERS 113 
©© Spikelets small and numerous, more or 
less elongated and pointed, not dangling : 
glumes and pale not inflated. 
Poa and Festuca (see p. 116) are difficult genera for the beginner ; 
several of the species vary considerably in detail. Generally speak- 
ing the spikelets of /estwca are hard, harsh and sharply pointed, or 
with short or evident awns; in Poa they are softer, and with 
blunter points, and never awned. The most obviously awned 
species of Hestuca have more or less setaceous leaves and contracted 
inflorescences (see p. 111). Some of the mountain species of Poa 
are extremely variable in small characters. 
=  Reed-like aquatic, with obtuse glumes rounded 
dorsally ; the large richly branched panicle 
bearing numerous 5—10 flowered spikelets. 
Sheath entire or nearly so. No web to the 
pale. 
Glyceria aquatica, Sm. 
For other reed-grasses, see note, p. 103. Glyceria fluitans has a 
more contracted panicle and usually more flowers in the spikelet &c. 
fee p. 111). 
== Meadow and pasture grasses &c.. usually 
small. Glumes more or less keeled and 
acute. Sheaths split. 
Poa. 
Spikelets very small and containing 2—3 
Jlowers only. Stem slender, terete and 
rough ; ligule long and acute, palea with 
prominent lateral nerves. 
P. trivialis, L. 
The flowers are fewer than in any other Poa, and may be only two. 
P. nemoralis, with 3—5 flowers, may also occasionally be found with 
two only: it differs from others in its more acute glumes, smooth 
stem and short ligule. 
P. pratensis differs in its creeping stolons, short ligule and more 
numerous 4—5 flowers, and in the indistinct nerves of the palea. 
b-+ 
W. 8 
