1847.] On the Grasses. 233 



different practice coming into vogue. When such works as have 

 emanated from the press within the last few years, can be sold to 

 farmers, and understandingly read by them, and agricultural jour- 

 nals of high scientific character can be supported by the same 

 class, it is certain that reason shall soon control, where, in former 

 times, it has had but little influence. 



ON THE GRASSES.— No. II. 



BY S. B. BUCKLEY. 



Since writing the first number, we have concluded to give short 

 descriptions of all our native species, including also those intro- 

 duced into the United States from other countries, and now natu- 

 ralized, or partially naturalized. We shall briefly describe those 

 which we consider as unworthy of cultivation by the agriculturist, 

 and dwell more at large upon those species which are useful or 

 injurious to the farmer. 



POA OF LiNNEUS. MeADOW GrASS. 



Spikelets: two or many flowered ; flowers distichous, hermaph- 

 rodite; glumes two, pointless, subequal; palea two, pointless; 

 lower, keeled or concave; upper, two-keeled ; stamens one to three; 

 ovarium sessile, glabrous; styles two, terminal; stigmas plumose; 

 caryopsis free or adhering to the upper palea; leaves mostly flat; 

 spikelets pedicillate, paniculate, or rarely racemose, sometimes 

 sessile; flowers sometimes dioecious. — Linn., gen. n. 83, excel, sp. 

 Kunth gram. 1 10. 



PoA PRATENSIS, LiNN. MeADOW GrASS KENTUCKY BlUE GrASS. 



Root perennial; culm terete; smooth, erect, one to three feet 

 high; leaves keeled, linear, radical; cerves very long, panicle 

 rather crowded and spreading; spikelets crowded on the branch- 

 lets; ovate, acute; two to five flowered; glumes unequal, sharply 

 accuminate; lower palea lance ovate, five nerved; upper palea 

 linear accuminate. — P. viridis Muhl. Gram., p. 138; Ell. 1, p. 

 159; J\^utt. Gen. 1, p. 66; Pursh. 1, p. 79; Beck, p. 410. 



For a further notice of this grass, see the January number. 



PoA COMPRESSA, LiNN. BlUE GrASS WiRE GrASS. 



Root creeping; culm genicolate, much compressed; decumbent, 

 smooth; eighteen to twenty-eight inches long; leaves linear, short 



