48 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



Obs. — Catabrosa aquatica has been frequently confounded with 

 Poa aquatica, (Plate XLIV.) but is readily distinguished by many 

 characters ; the most prominent, however, are in the branches of the 

 panicle, rachis, sheaths of leaves being perfectly smooth to the touch. 

 Calyx containing but two florets ; — whereas in P, aquatica the bran- 

 ches of the panicle, rachis, sheaths of leaves are very rough to the 

 touch, and the calyx contains from four to eight florets. 



This species is said to be one of the sweetest of the British grasses, 

 the young leaves and portions of the stems being remarkably sweet 

 and pleasant to the taste, resembling that of liquorice. Water-fowls 

 are fond of the seeds and young shoots. Cattle eat the leaves with 

 a relish, but as the plant is strictly an aquatic, found to exist only in 

 wet or muddy pools, in ditches, and such like places, render it unfit 

 for cultivation. 



It is frequent in Scotland, England, and Ireland. It is found al- 

 so in Lapland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, and Italy, as well 

 as in the northern parts of South America. It has not been discover- 

 ed in the United States. Its limit of altitude seems to be about 500 

 feet above the sea. It flowers in the second week of July, and ripens 

 its seed in the middle of August. 



33. HOLCUS LANATUS. * 



Meadow Soft- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Awn with the two lower thirds perfectly 

 smooth. (Plate XXI.) 



Description. — It grows from one to two feet high. The root is 

 perennial, fibrous. Stem erect, round, scarcely smooth, bearing four 

 or five leaves with sofi downy sheaths ; the upper sheath much longer 

 than its leaf, inflated, crowned with an obtuse, membranous ligule ; 

 the lower sheaths shorter than their leaves. Joiyits usually four, oc- 

 casionally naked, but more frequently covered with soft downy hairs, 

 with their points directed downwards. Leaves of a pale green, flat, 

 broadish, acute, soft on both surfaces, being covered with slender deli- 

 cate hairs. Inflorescence compound panicled, of a greenish reddish 



• Holms lanatus, Linn., Smith, Hooker, Greville, Lindley, Koch, 

 3 



