GRASSES OF SCOTI.AND. 77 



{Fig. 4), the dorsal rib hairy on the lower half : the margmal and in- 

 termediate ribs icithout hairs ; the base furnished Nvith a delicate web 

 suspending the cah-x. Inner palea with two green marginal ribs mi- 

 nutely fringed- 



jparvifiora. (Plate XXXV ). This variety is very slen- 

 der ; the spikelets small, of one to two florets, and the stem generally 

 smooth. Common in shady woods, and is frequently mistaken for 

 Poa nemoralis, var. angustifolia, from which it differs in the sheaths 

 being rough (when felt from below upwards), ligules long and point- 

 ed, and the outer palea with the marginal ribs not hairy ; — whereas 

 in Poa nemoralis the sheaths are smooth, the ligules very short and 

 obtuse, and the marginal ribs of the outer palea hain.-. 



Obs. — Poa trivialis is readily distinguished from Poa prat ensis in the 

 slieaths being more or less rough ; iigide long and pointed, and the 

 marginal ribs of the outer palea without hairs ; — whereas in P. pra- 

 tensis the sheaths are mostly smooth ; ligide obtuse, and the marginal 

 ribs of the outer palea furnished with hairs. (Plate XXXI.) 



From Poa nemoralis, in the sheaths being more or less rough to the 

 touch ; ligule long and pointed; upper leaf muoh shorter than its sheath; 

 outer palea with the marginal ribs not hairy ; — whereas in P. nemo- 

 ralis the sheaths are smooth ; the ligule ven,- short and obtuse ; upper 

 leaf about equal in length to its sheath ; outer palea with the mar- 

 ginal ribs hairy. (Plate XXXVI.) 



From Poa compressa in the stem being round : sheath roughish : 

 ligule long and pointed ; tipper leaf much shorter than its sheath ; 

 ^nter palea five-ribbed, the marginal ribs not hairj- ; — ^whereas in 

 P. compressa the stem is very much compressed : ligule obtuse ; 

 upper leaf about equal in length to its sheath ; outer palea three- 

 ribbed, the marginal ribs hairv. (Plate XXX^TI). 



Poa trivialis is a most valuable grass to the agriculturist, when cul- 

 tivated on moist rich sheltered soils, but on dry exposed situations it 

 becomes unprofitable, and but little adapted for alternate husbandry-, 

 Mr Sinclair states, that the superior produce of this Poa over many other 

 species, its highly nutritive qualities, the season in which it arrives 

 at perfection, and the marked partiality which oxen, horses, and 

 sheep have for it, are merits which distinguish it as one of the most 

 valuable of those grasses which afiect moist, rich soils, and sheltered 



