100 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



broad, acute, flat, polished, of a light-green, ribbed, and roughish 

 on both surfaces; the upper leaf smaller than those below. In- 

 Jlorescence compound panicled. Panicle slightly drooping on the 

 upper part, leaning mostly to one side, spreading while in flower ; 

 the branches slender, roughish upwards ; arising from the rachis 

 in pairs. Spikelets numerous, small in comparison with the size 

 of the plant ; of three awnless florets ; becoming very deciduous 

 when in seed. Calyx of two unequal, narroic, acute, membra- 

 nous glumes (Fig. 1,) icithout lateral ribs ; a little apart at the 

 base, and never overlapping. Florets of two paleae (Fig. 2), the outer 

 palea of lowermost floret rough, acute, three-ribbed, the dorsal rib ser- 

 rated the whole length, the lowermost serrations the most prominent. 

 Inner palea roughish, about equal in length to the outer palea, mem- 

 branous, and minutely fringed at the margins. Pedicle of the second 

 floret rough. 



Obs. — Poa sylvatica is distinguished from the genus Festuca (in 

 which genus it is placed in Hooker's British Flora,) in the radical 

 leaves being much broader than the upper leaf of the stem ; ligule 

 prominent ; outer palea acute but membranous at the summit ; — 

 whereas in Festuca the radical leaves are never broader than those of 

 the stem, and almost always much narrower ; ligule exceedingly 

 short ; outer palea more or less awned at the summit. 



It is distinguished from Bucetum pratense in the ligule being pro- 

 minent ; leaves roughish on both surfaces ; spikelets of only three 

 florets; dorsal rib of outer palea rough its whole length; — whereas in 

 B. pratense the ligule is exceedingly short ; leaves perfectly smooth 

 on the under surface ; spikelets of not less than five florets ; dorsal 

 rib of outer palea perfectly smooth its whole length. (Plate XL VI.) 

 From Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, and Poa nemoralis, in the glumes 

 being narrow, without lateral ribs ; base of florets perfectly free of 

 hairs ; outer palea only three-ribbed — instead of the glumes being 

 rather broad and three-ribbed i florets distinctly webbed ; outer palea 

 five -ribbed. 



Poa sylvatica, from its broad tender leaves, which are produced in 

 great abundance, and being much sought after by cows and horses, 

 render this grass worthy of agricultural attention. It grows in damp 



