1847.] On the Grasses. 235 



pasturage or hay; the produce not being very early, but the yield 

 abundant, and of an excellent quality. Mr. Sinclair also recom- 

 mends it in the following words: " The superior produce of this 

 poa over many other species; its highly nutritive qualities; the 

 seasons in which it arrives at perfection; and the marked partial- 

 ity which oxen, horses and sheep have for it, are merits which 

 distinguish it as one of the most valuable of those grasses which 

 affect moist rich soils and sheltered situations; but in dry, exposed 

 situations, it is altogether inconsiderable. It yearly diminishes, 

 and ultimately dies off, not unfrequently in the space of four or 

 five years. Its produce is always much greater when combined 

 with other grasses, than when cultivated by itself. With a pro- 

 per admixture, it will nearly double its produce, though on the 

 same soil; so much does it delight in shelter. Those spots in 

 pastures that are closely eaten down, consist for the most part of 

 this grass. For hay, it should be cut when the seed is ripe, when 

 the yield will be more abundant and more nutritious." 



Poa Annua, Linn. — Annual Meadow Grass. 



Ptoot annual, culm compressed; cespitose three to eight inches 

 long, geniculate, smooth; panicle spreading; spikelets ovate, 

 oblong; three to six flowered; glumes unequal, ovate, lanceolate; 

 lower palea ovate, obtuse, five nerved; upper palea lance linear, 

 white, with two green marginal keels. — Linn., sj). 1, p. 68. 

 Flowers throughout the season. 



Frequent near paths and road-sides, throughout the United 

 States: it also abounds in most European countries. Loudon says 

 it is the most common plant in all temperate climates, and per- 

 haps in the world. In the American Farmer's Encyclopedia, un- 

 der Poa annua, the sentence commencing with, " This grass, 

 which Dr. Darlington calls meadow Poa," and the remainder 

 of the article, is intended for Poa pratensis, instead of Poa 

 annua. 



PoA Pugnans, Nutt. — Sharp-leaved Meadow Grass. 



Culm erect, smooth, slightly compressed, cespitose; radical 

 leaves long and narrow, those of the culm usually two, short and 

 acute; panicle small, spreading; branches flexuose, few, mostly 

 by twos or threes; spikelets somewhat crowded at the extremity 

 of the branchlets; flowers webbed at the base; glumes unequal, 

 lanceolate; lower palea ovate, lanceolate, obtuse, scarious at the 

 apex; upper palea shorter, linear lanceolate; caryopsis oblong, 

 linear, channelled on one side; culm one to two feet high; root 

 perennial. — JYutt., gen. 1, p. 66; P. aufvmnalis Ell., sk. 1, p. 

 159; P. flexuosa Muhl. Gram., p. 148, {not of Smith;) P. ciis- 

 pidafa Bart., fl. Phil. 1, p. 61. 



