216 GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 



PoA DiSTANS (variety) obtusa. 



Babing tortus Meadow- Grass. 



Plate XCVI. 



This unusual variety of Poa distans I received from Mr Babing- 

 ton, who gathered it at Breeden, Leicestershire, where it grows in 

 great quantity and is annually cut for hay. It differs in some re- 

 spects from the more common form of Poa distans, as figured in Plate 

 XLL, viz. in the spikelets being larger, the ligules shorter, and the 

 outer palea broader and more obtuse ; and in case it might here- 

 after be considered as a distinct species, I have deemed it necessary 

 to give a full description of the whole plant. 



Description. — Root perennial, fibrous, producing several stems 

 from three to fifteen inches in length. Stems erect, compressed, 

 smooth, striated, and polished, bearing four or five leaves with smooth 

 striated sheaths, upper sheath much longer than its leaf. Ligide of 

 upper sheath short and obtuse, about one-third as long as broad. 

 Joints four, mostly covered by the sheaths, the upper joint situated 

 about the middle of the stem. Leaves short, smooth behind, rough 

 on the inner surface, with eight or nine prominent ribs, the margins 

 mostly involute when dry. Infiorescence compound panicled, rather 

 close ; rachis and branches strongly grooved, rough to the touch, 

 the branches arising from the lower half of the rachis in threes or 

 fives. Spikelets linear, composed of two glumes and about seven 

 florets. Glumes unequal, obtuse, membranous at the margins, 

 slightly three-ribbed, the outer glume much the smaller. Florets of 

 two palese, outer palea of lowermost floret about one-fourth longer 

 than the large glume, obtuse, the back straight, slightly hairy at the 

 base, five-ribbed, the ribs prominent, the middle one not reaching to 

 the top. Inner palea rather shorter than the outer, with two green 

 ribs delicately fringed. Styles two, distinct, very short. Stigmas 

 feathery. Filaments three. Anthers notched at each end. Scales 

 acute. 



Obs. — This plant is distinguished from Poa maritima in the ligvle 

 being shorter and more obtuse ; outer palea broader and more ob- 



