32 TRIAKD. DIGYN. 



linear, obtuse* Spike of a shining blueish gray with large yellow 

 anthers tipped with purple. Spikelets generally in pairs, oblongo- 

 ovate, the lower ones with an ovate ciliated and toothed bractea at the 

 base. Cal.valves ovato-lanceolate, toothed, middle tooth lengthened 

 into an awn, pubescent at the keel and margin. Florets longer than 

 the ml. Valves of the cor. oblongo-ovate, ext. ribbed, pubescent and 

 ciliated with 3 or 5 teeth, the middle tooth lengthened into a short 

 awn : int. bifid. 



20. POA a . 



1. P.aquatica (Reed Men dow- grass) ^ panicle erect very much 

 branched, spikelets linear of about 6 obtuse florets which have 

 7 ribs". Lightf. p. 1083. E. B. I. 1315. 



HAB. Sides of rivers, ponds and ditches, but not common, Lightf. 

 Banks of Leith river, at Bonnington bridge, Maugh. About Perth 

 and Forfai', G. Don. Kilmenney, Fifeshire, Mr. Arnott. Fl. July, 

 August. I/ . 



Four to six feet high, erect. Leaves linear, lanceolate, rough. Ligule 

 short, obtuse. Cat. valves small, ovate, obtuse, membranous, smooth- 

 ish. Ext. valve of cor. twice as large as the calyx, int. one narrower, 

 and bifid at the point. 



2. P. fluttajis (floating Meadotv-grass), panicle nearly erect 

 slightly branched, spikelets linear appressed of from 7 11 

 obtuse florets which have 7 ribs with short intermediate ones at 

 the base, root creeping. Lightf. p. 103 (Festucajlmla7is). 

 E.B.t. 1520. 



HAB. Plentiful in ditches and stagnant waters. FL. July, August. I/ . 



Culms from 1 3 feet high, thick and succulent. Leaves linear-lanceo- 

 late, acute. Ligule oblong, pointed. Panicle subsecund, very long, 

 slender. Cal. valves unequal, small, ovate, membranous, obtuse. Cor. 

 valves ovato-oblong, thrice as long as the cal.; outer ones scabrous. 

 The little scale (Nectary L.), at the base of the germen is of 1 fleshy 

 piece, and the stigmas are much divided, on which account Mr. 

 Brown makes of it a new Genus Glyceria. It is found in New Hol- 

 land. The seeds, under the name of Manna seeds, are sold in Hol- 



The different species of Poa border so closely the one upon the other 

 that it is hardly possible to subdivide the Genus by means of well derined 

 characters. The following may serve to aid the student in his investigation. 



* Cal. as long as the florets, ext. valve of the cor. tridentate, (Triodia Br.) 

 P. decumbens, 15. 



** Cal. shorter than the florets, ext. valve entire. 



f Spikelets more or less linear. 

 P. aquatica, 1. fluitans, 2. maritima, 3. distans, 4. procumbens, 5. rigida, 6, 



tf Spikelets more or less ovate. 



P. compressa, 7- alpina, 8. laxa, 9. caesia, 10. trivialis, 11. pratensis, 12. 

 annua, 13. nemoralis, 14. 



h When the hluntness or acuteness, and the ribs or nerves of the flower* 

 are spoken of, tho outer valve of the ror. alone is alluded to. 



