GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 93 



palea not reaching to the summit ; — whereas in P. procumbens the pa- 

 nicle is more or less close ; the branches never deflexed ; unilate- 

 ral, leaving the rachis behind perfectly bare. The ribs of the glumes 

 very prominent, and the dorsal rib of the outer palea extending 

 slightly beyond the summit, (See Plate XLIL) 



From Poa trivialis, in the sheaths being smooth to the touch ; 

 liffjjle obtuse ; spikelets linear ; florets not webbed ; — whereas in P. 

 trivialis the sheaths are roughish to the touch ; ligule long and point- 

 ed ; spikelets ovate ; Jlorets distinctly webbed. (See Plate XXXV. 

 Figs. 1 and 2.) 



From Poa pratensis, in the spikelets being linear ; Jlorets not 

 webbed ; glumes obtuse and smooth on the keels ; — whereas in P. 

 pratensis the spikelets are ovate ; Jlorets copiously webbed ; glumes 

 acute and minutely toothed on the upper part of the keels. 



From Poa annua, in the inner surface of the leaves and the bran- 

 ches of the panicle being very rough to the touch ; — ^whereas in P. an- 

 nua the inner surface of the leaves and the branches of the panicle 

 are perfectly smooth to the touch. 



Poa distans is said to rank among the most inferior of the British 

 grasses for agricultural purposes, and is therefore not to be recom- 

 mended. It is a rare grass in Scotland, found in Forfar and North 

 Queensferr}' ; but in England it is more frequently met with in the 

 counties of Northumberland, Durham, York, Notts, Flints, Den- 

 bigh, "Worcester, Beds, Cambridge, Kent, Sussex, Somerset, and De- 

 von ; also a native of Norway, Sweden, Prussia, Germany, Switzer- 

 land, France, and Italy. Not foimd in America. 



Flowers in the first week of July, and ripens its seed in the early 

 part of August 



62. Poa maritoia. * 

 Creeping Sea Meadoic- Grass. 



Specijic Characters. — Florets not webbed. Upper sheath longer 

 than its leaf. Spikelets linear. Outer palea five-ribbed. Glumes 



* Poa maritima, Linn., Hooker, GreviUe. Glyceria maritima, Smith, Koch. Pestuea 

 thalassia, Kunth. 



