Phytolacca — Poa . 173 



ous herbaceous perennial, from 5^ ft. to nearly 10 ft. 

 high, with stems of a reddish hue, very much branched 

 above ; the branches, leaf-stalks, veins of the leaves, and 

 flower-stalks being also red. The flowers are numerous, 

 in cylindrical spikes, and are at first white, afterwards 

 changing to a delicate rose-colour. In autumn the 

 leaves change to a uniform reddish tinge, which has a 

 fine effect, contrasted with the numerous pendent purple 

 berries. This is a very hardy plant, requiring hardly any 

 attention and growing in almost any kind of soil. Mul- 

 tiplied either by seed or by division. It forms a very 

 free and vigorous mass of vegetation, and, though 

 perhaps scarcely refined enough in leaf to justify its 

 being recommended for flower-garden use, no plant is 

 more worthy of a place wherever a rich herbaceous vege- 

 tation is desired ; whether near the rougher approaches 

 of a hardy fernery, open glades near woodland walks, or 

 any like positions. N. America. 



*Poa aquatica. — A stout, rapidly increasing native 

 grass, growing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, with broad, flat 

 leaves and the inflorescence in much-branched handsome 

 panicles, sometimes nearly a foot long. It is not uncom- 

 mon in England and Ireland, mostly occurring in wet 

 ditches, by rivers, and in marshes. It is one of the 

 boldest and handsomest hardy grasses, for planting by 

 the margins of pieces of artificial water or streams, asso- 

 ciated with such plants as the Typhas, Acorus, bullrush, 

 great water-dock, etc. 



*Poa fertilis. — Just within the main entrance of the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew a very graceful-looking grass 

 might have been seen isolated on the turf during the 



