234 On the Grasses. [May, 



keeled; ligules short, obtuse; panicle compressed, somewhat se- 

 cund; spikelets ovate, oblong; three to nine flowered; glumes 

 shorter than the lowest flower; lower palea ovate oblong — Linn., 

 Sp. 1, p. 69. Also described by most authors on European and 

 American grasses. Flowers June, July. 



This grass varies much in its appearance. On dry soils it 

 grows in tufts having rigid wire-like culms, and small, short, com- 

 pressed panicles, the culms rarely exceeding eight or ten inches 

 in length; the whole having a dark green color, inclining to blue. 

 Such is its general appearance on stubble land, in wheat fields 

 and dry pastures, in Western New York. It is so tenacious of 

 life that it is difficult to be subdued by summer fallowing, as a 

 small quantity of dirt adhering to the roots is sufficient to keep it 

 alive. To destroy it, the ground should be thoroughly harrowed 

 soon after plowing, and the use of the cultivator will be found 

 highly beneficial. Hence this grass is regarded as a pest in our 

 wheat growing fields. 



On the rich warm soil of Kentucky, the culms of this grass 

 sometimes attain the length of twenty-eight inches; and in the 

 rich meadows and pastures of Western New York, it grows about 

 two feet high, nearly erect, with the culm and leaves of a bright 

 green color. 



It forms a highly nutricious food, but is unworthy of cultiva- 

 tion on account of its tenacity of life, general diminutive size, 

 scanty production, growing in tufts, rarely forming a sward. Sup- 

 posed to have been introduced from Europe, and now extensively 

 naturalized in the Northern and Western States. 



PoA Trivialis, Linn. — Rough Meadow Grass. 



Root perennial; culm and sheaths somewhat scabrous; leaves 

 smooth, narrow; ligule oblong-lanceolate, acute; panicle equal 

 diffuse, large pyramidal, somewhat verticillate; spikelets, three 

 to four flowered; ovate flowers webbed at the base; glumes un- 

 equal scabrous, very acute; palea unequal, scarious at the apex; 

 lower palea obtuse, pubescent at the base; culm two to three feet 

 high. — Linn., sp. ], p. 67; P. stobonirea Muhl. Gram., p. 179; 

 P. scabra. Ehr. Fl. fr. 3, p. 59; P. duhia Leers, herb.,t. 6, f. 5. 

 Flowers June to August. 



Considered as a naturalized foreigner; but is not as w^idely dif- 

 fused as either of the two preceding — yet it is found as far west 

 as Kentucky. It has some resemblance to Poa pratensis; but is 

 generally considered by American farmers to be much inferior in 

 value. We are not aware that it has been fairly tested or much 

 cultivated in this country. It is grown extensively in England, 

 and is highly esteemed. Mr. Curtis, an English writer on the 

 Grasses, remarks, that this is one of the most valuable, either for 



