196 88. GRAMINE.E. 



Spikelets very numerous, 5 10-flowered, linear-oblong. Gl. 

 small, unequal, thin and 1 -nerved. Glumellas with 5 7 ribs, 

 scariose 011 the margin. 



Frequent. Sides of rivers, ponds, and ditches, (E) P. 78. Banks of the 

 Forth and Clyde Canal; Fossil marsh; river Cart, near the bridge beyond 

 Shawlands. 



2. P. FLUITANS, Scop. Floating Meadow-grass, Manna Group- 

 grass. Rhizome creeping. Stems decumbent, weak but rather 

 thick and succulent, 1 3 ft. high. Le. linear-lanceolate, more or 

 less folded when young, older ones floating on the surface of the 

 water; sheath striate nearly smooth. Panicle erect, slender, very 

 long; branches few. Spikelets linear, leaning all to one side of 

 the rachis, 8 20-flowered, from | to 1 in. long. Glumellas with 

 57 ribs. 



Very common. Ditches and stagnant pools. (B) P. 78. 



3. P. MARITIMA, Huds. Sea Meadow-grass, Rhizome creep- 

 ing. Stems decumbent at the base, very rigid, round and smooth, 

 8 12 in. high. Le. involute, short-pointed, glaucous. Panicle 

 nearly simple, erect. Spikelets linear, mostly turned to one side 

 of the branches, 6 8-flowered. Lower glumella faintly 5-nerved, 

 apiculate, purplish, slightly silky at the base. 



Common. Sea coast, in damp places. (B) P. 7. From Dumbarton, all round 

 the Firth. 



4. P. COMPRESSA, L. Flat-stemmed Meadow-grass. Rhizome 

 creeping. Stems decumbent at the base, 8 12 in. high, com- 

 pressed, bearing 4 5 le. ; uppermost node about the middle of 

 the stem; upper le. the same length as its sheath. Panicle 

 slightly spreading ; branches generally in pairs. Spikelets oblong, 

 of 5 7 obtuse florets, slightly webbed, with silky hairs on the 

 keel of the outer glumella, 3 -nerved, or in a variety called P. 

 polynoda, 5-nerved. 



Very rare. On walls and barren places. (B) P. G 7. "Walls about the old 

 oaks," Pair. On the top of a dry wall, Fossil road; Corrieburn. 



B. Spikelets ovate. 



5. P. PRATENSIS, L. Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass. Rhizome 

 creeping. Stem erect, round and smooth, 12 18 in. high. Le. 

 flat, acute, roughish on the edges and inner surface ; upper sheath 

 much longer than its le. ; ligule obtuse; sheaths smooth striated. 

 Panicle spreading; spikelets ovate, with 3 4 webbed-florets, 

 Glumella with 5 nerves, more or less hairy on the keel and 

 lateral nerves. 



Very common. Meadows and pastures. (B) P. 6 7. 



6. P. TRTVIALIS, L. Roughish Meadow-grass. Stem 1 2 ft. 

 high. Ligule long and acute ; sheaths rough. Marginal nerves of 

 the outer glumella without hairs; excepting these characters, 

 very like the former species, and as common. 



Very common. Meadows and pastures. (B) P. 67. 



