368 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



TRIVIAL (OR WAT-SIDE) POA. Rough Meadow-grass. 



Perennial. Culms 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, often declined at base, geniculate, stolon- 

 iferous. Leaves 3 to 6 or 8 inches long; sheaths striate-nerved ; UguLe remarkably 

 large and whitish. Panicle loose, expanding. 

 Hob. Moist places. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This has considerable resemblance to the following one, 

 but is decidedly inferior in value. The features mentioned will 

 readily serve to distinguish them. 



4 P.pratensis, L. Culms erect, terete and, with the sheaths, smooth ; 

 ligule short, truncate; spikelets 3- to 5-flowered; florets conspicu- 

 ously webbed. 

 MEADOW POA. Smooth Meadow-grass. Green-Grass. 



Perennial. Culms 1 to 2 or 3 feet high. Radical leaves often very numerous, 

 and very long (1 to 2 feet, or more, in rich soils), scarcely a line wide, and exactly 

 linear, terminating abruptly in a boat-shaped or keeled point, deep-green, culm 

 leaves shorter than the sheaths. Panicle at first rather contracted, finally expand* 

 ing and pyramidal. 

 Sab. Fields, meadows, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



Obs. This varies greatly, in size and appearance, when growing 

 in different soils and situations. It is believed to be a foreigner ; 

 but is thoroughly naturalized. In our best soils, the radical leaves 

 are very luxuriant, when it is known by the name of "Green- 

 Grass." It is the profusion of the nutritious radical leaves, which 

 constitutes the chief excellence of this grass, which is, indeed, the 

 most valuable known in our pastures. The slender culms afford a 

 good material for the manufacture of Leghorn hats. 



5. P. compressa, L. Culms ascending, much compressed and, with 

 the sheaths, smooth ; panicle contracted, somewhat one-sided. 

 COMPRESSED POA. Blue-Grass. Wire-Grass. 



Perennial. Rhizwnas branching and creeping. Culms 9 to 18 inches long, 

 oblique and geniculate, often procumbent and radicating at base. leaves 2 or 3 to 

 5 or 6 inches long, linear, keeled, and, with the culm, of a bluish-green, or glau- 

 cous hue. Panicle at first almost spicate, finally expanding; spikelets 5- or 6-flow- 

 ered, often purplish. 

 Sab. Fields, and pastures. Nat. of Europe. FL June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This species is also thoroughly naturalized, and is universally 

 known, here, by the name of Blue-grass, though, in Kentucky, that 

 name is given to the preceding (our Green- Grass). It affords much 

 less pasture than the Green-Grass, and therefore is less valuable; 

 but what there is, is believed to be even more nutritious. The 

 rhizomas are exceedingly tenacious of life, which renders the grass 

 rather troublesome, in cultivated grounds, among other crops. 



486. ERAGROS'TIS, Beauvois. 



[Perhaps from the Gr. Era, the earth, and Agrostis ; being sometimes procumbent.] 

 Spikelets nearly as in Poa, few- or many-flowered, in an open panicle. 

 Glumes unequal. Lower palea 3-nerved, not webbed at base, the 

 upper one persistent on the rachis. Chiefly annuals: culmt often 

 branching, geniculate and oblique, or sometimes creeping j ligult 

 ehort, often bearded. 



