GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 103 



a long ragged pointed ligule ; the second sheath extending beyond 

 the first joint. Joints about seven, smooth. Leaves rather lono- and 

 linear, roughish on both surfaces, the lower ones flat, the upper ones 

 generally folded, compressed, the central rib on the back extendmg 

 down the sheath, Injiorescence mostly simple panicled. Panicle near- 

 ly erect, long and slender, with slender roughish branches arranged 

 alternately on the rachis mostly in pairs of unequal lengths, for the 

 most part erect, but while flowering strongly divaricated for a time. 

 Spikelets few, long and linear, (Fig. 3), variegated with green and 

 white, of six to fourteen florets ; the summit of the lower floret ex- 

 tending considerably beyond the large glume of the calvx. Cali/x of 

 two very unequal, obtuse, membranous glumes (Fig. 1) without late- 

 ral ribs. Florets not icehbed, of two paleae (Fig. 2), the outer palea 

 of lowermost floret seven-ribbed ; the dorsal rib scarcely extendino^ to 

 the summit, minutely toothed the ichole length ; the lateral ribs more 

 or less rough, but without hairs. Inner palea rather shorter than the 

 outer, bifid, fiu-nished with two green marginal ribs minutelv fringed 

 on the upper half. 



Obs. — Poa Jiuitans, from the general appearance of the slender 

 panicle and long linear spikelets, can scarcely be confounded with 

 any of the other Poas. The only grass that it can well be mistaken 

 for is Bucetum loliaceurn, but is readily distinguished from it, in the 

 outer palea having seven ribs, and the dorsal rib minutely toothed the 

 whole length;- whereas in B. loliaceurn the outer palea has but 

 five ribs and the dorsal rib perfectly smooth : independent of manv 

 other characters. 



This grass grows natiu-ally in wet or muddy places, in ditches, 

 ponds, and margins of rivulets, and will bear cultivation on mode- 

 rately dry gromids as a permanent pasture grass, and yield a consi- 

 derable produce. Cattle will eat it, but there are many grasses they 

 like better. In several parts of Germany, this grass is cidtivated for 

 the seeds, which form the manna-croup of the shops, and are consi- 

 dered a delicacy in soups and gruels. Birds and trout, it is said, are 

 fond of the seeds, which, when grounc 

 little inferior to that made from wheat. 



