30 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



it may be carefully distinguished from the seed of 

 hassock-grass (Fig. 1L), which is so unprofitable, 

 and difficult to eradicate when once in possession of 

 the soil, that some have applied to it the epithet ex- 

 ecrable. This seed differs from that of the hassock- 

 grass (Fig. 11.), in being one half larger in the awn ; 

 which is long, of a dark colour, and recurved or bent 

 back a little before it reaches the top of the seed ; the 

 form of the seed is likewise more of an oblong figure, 

 which a reference to Fig. 1 1 . will shew. 

 Refer. 1. A seed, the natural size, with its bent awn. 



1. The same magnified. 



Fig. 31. Poa pratensis, smooth-stalked or creeping-rooted mea- 

 dow couch-grass. 



Seed acuminate, or pointed, furrowed on the flat 

 side ; furnished with a thick woolly web which entan- 

 gles the seeds. 

 Refer. 1. A spiket of ripe seed, the natural size. 



2. A seed the natural size, with its woolly web attached. 

 2. The same magnified. 



Fig. 32. Poa trivialis, rough-stalked meadow-grass. Common 

 meadow-grass. 



The Poa pratensis has a strong creeping root, and, 

 like every other creeping-rooted plant, is a great im- 

 poverisher of the soil, and with difficulty rooted out 

 of land : the Poa trivialis has many good qualities ; 

 it is therefore of importance to distinguish their seeds, 

 which are so much alike. The chief mark of distinction 

 to the naked eye, is the woolly web which connects 

 or entangles the seeds ; in the Poa pratensis it is 

 greater than in the Poa trivialis; the seeds of the 

 former can hardly be separated from each other, but 

 those of the Poa trivialis are very little entangled by 

 the web. But with the aid of a glass, they may be at 

 once determined with certainty : the seed of the Poa 

 pratensis being more acuminate, and appearing on the 

 face concave ; while that of the Poa trivialis is shorter, 

 rounder, and nearly quite flat on the face. See 

 Fig. 13. 

 Refer. 1. Spikets of ripe seed. 



2. A seed, the natural size. 



