260 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Poa Canadensis, Beauvois. 



The Rattlesnake Grass of South-East America. A valuable swamp- 

 grass. 



Poa Chinensis, Koenig. 



South and East Asia, East Australia. Recommended by Mr. F. 

 M. Bailey as a valuable pasture grass, perhaps on account of its 

 tender panicles. Poa bulbosa, L., of Europe and West Asia, and 

 P. compressa, L., of the same regions, will grow in pure sand. The 

 latter is a good lawn grass, and also of pastoral value. 



Poa cynosuroides, Retz. 



North-Eastern Africa, South Asia. A harsh perennial grass, not 

 serviceable for fodder, but mentioned by Royle as a fibre- plant of 

 North- Western India, where it is valued as a material for ropes. 

 In this respect it may not surpass the rough tufty variety of Poa 

 caespitosa, F., so common on river banks of South-East Australia, 

 from the leaves of which excellent nets are made by the natives. 



Poa digitata, R. Brown. 



South-Eastern and Central Australia. Valuable for fixing wet 

 river-banks and slopes. It forms large stools. Cattle and horses 

 relish it. 



Poa distans, Linne. 



Europe, North Africa, Middle and Northern Asia, North America. 

 Perennial. It is one of the limited number of tender grasses, 

 suited for moist saline soil, and thus affords pasturage on coast 

 marshes. 



Poa fertilis, Host. (P. serotina, Ehrhart.) 



Europe, North Asia, North America. Perennial. Important for 

 wet meadows, even with sandy subsoil. Its foliage is tender, tasty, 

 and nourishing. In mixtures of grasses it keeps up the growth 

 late into the autumn ; it will prosper also in sandy and saline soil. 



Poa fluitans, Scopoli. (Glyceria fluitans, R. Brown.) 



Europe, North Africa, Middle and North Asia, North America, 

 East Australia. The Manna Grass. Perennial. Excellent for 

 stagnant water and slow-flowing streams. The foliage is tender. 

 The seeds are sweet and palatable, and are in many countries used 

 for porridge. 



Poa maritima, Hudson. 



Europe, North Africa, North Asia, North America. Its long 

 creeping roots help to bind the coast sand. This grass can also be 

 depastured and grown on meadows. 



