74 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



with an obtuse membranous ligule (Fig. 5.) Joints smooth. Leaves 

 linear, flat, acute, roughish on the edges and inner surface, smooth 

 behind towards the base. Injiorescence panicled, spreading, erect, oc- 

 casionally somewhat drooping ; the branches roughish, the lower ones 

 generally in threes or fives. Spikelets ovate, slightly compressed, from 

 three to five florets, the summit of the lower floret extending but 

 slightly beyond the large glume of the calyx. Calyx of two nearly 

 equal acute glumes (Fig. 1), three-ribbed, the dorsal rib toothed on 

 the upper part ; the lateral ribs of lowermost glume often wanting. 

 Florets of two awnless palese (Fig. 2) ; the outer palea of lowermost 

 floret five-ribbed ; the lower half of the dorsal and marginal ribs 

 hairy, the intermediate ribs naked (Fig. 4) ; the base of the floret fur- 

 nished with a copious web, suspending the calyx. Inner palea a very 

 little shorter than the outer palea, occasionally bifid at the summit, 

 furnished with two green marginal ribs, delicately fringed. The 

 whole plant is of a light pleasant green ; the spikelets frequently va- 

 riegated with brownish purple. 



This variety has a stout, compressed stem. 



with short broad leaves ; the upper leaf folded, compressed, with the 

 summit rounded behind. Panicle erect ; spikelets large ; the lower- 

 most branches smooth, and mostly in pairs. The whole plant is of a 

 dark-green. Common by road-sides. (Plate XXXII.) 



umhrosa, a tall, slender variety, with a somewhat droop- 

 ing panicle ; the branches rough, the lower ones generally in fives. 

 Leaves long and narrow. The whole plant of a light pleasant green. 

 Frequent in shady places. Often mistaken for Poa nemoralis. (Plate 

 XXXII.) 



arida, a variety about a foot high, with the panicle 



somewhat drooping. Stem sheathed nearly to the summit, with the 

 upper leaf passing behind the panicle. The whole plant soon as- 

 sumes a bleached appearance. Common in dry exposed situations. 

 (Plate XXXIII.) 



retrqflexa, a small slender variety, with the lower 



branches of the panicle suddenly bent downwards. Frequent in pas- 

 tures under shady trees. Occasionally mistaken for Poa distans. 

 (Plate XXXIII.) 



