GRASSES OF BRITAIN'. 203 



-while in Poa compressa the ligides are shoi't and 

 blunt. Stem ven* much compressed, and the root creeping. 



This grass has not been found either in Scotland or Ireland, but 

 grows abundantly in many places on the sandy shores on the south 

 and ea^t of England, especially near Yarmouth, where it forms a 

 great part of the herbage of the Denes. It also grows plentifully at 

 Lowestoff, Suffolk, on the low sandy ground between the middle part 

 of the town and the beach. It is also a native of France, Germany, 

 Spain, Portugal, Italy, Siberia, and Xorth Africa. 



It is an early grass, flowering in April and ^lay, after which it 

 soon withers, when the bulbs lie loose upon the sand until the au- 

 tumn following, when they again fix themselves. For the purpose of 

 agriculture, this grass possesses no superior merit beyond that of 

 early growth, the quantity of herbage being scanty. 



The accompanj-iug figiu-e was taken fi-om a specimen gathered in 

 Suffolk. 



Explanation of Plate LXXXIX. Poa hulbosa, natural size. 



Fig. I. Spikelets, shovring the two glumes and four florets. ") 



2. Glumes. I 



3. Floret, showing the outer and inner palea, with a copious web at the base. ; .5 



4. Outer palea opened, showing the five ribs, three of which are hairy. }■ '5 



5. Inner palea, showing the fringed marginal ribs. I ^ 



6. Ligule of upper sheath long and pointed. ] 



7. Ovarium, pistils, and stamens. / 



