Poa.] GRAMINE.E. 303 



Name, von, grass or pasturage, from 7raa, to feed; the whole 

 Genus affording an abundant pasturage for cattle. 



Triandria. Digynia. 



# Spikelets linear or subcylindrical. (Glyceria, Sm. and, in 

 part, Br.) 



1. P. aguatica, Linn. Reed Meadow-grass. Panicle erect, 

 very much branched ; spikelets linear, with about six obtuse 

 florets, which have seven ribs. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 43. E. Bot. 

 t. 1315. Glyceria aquatica. E. Fl. v. i. p. 116. Hydrochloa, 

 Hartman, Lindl. 



Sides of rivers, pools and ditches. Fl. July, Aug. %. Four to six 

 feet high, erect. Leaves linear-lanceolate, rough. Ligule short, ob- 

 tuse. Calyx-valves small, ovate, obtuse, membranous, smoothish. 

 Exterior valves of the corolla twice as long as the calyx ; interior 

 narrower and bifid at the point. A useful grass to sow on the banks of 

 rivers or brooks, horses, cows, and goats being exceedingly fond of it. 



2. P. fluitans, Scop. Floating Meadow-grass. Panicle 

 nearly erect, slightly branched ; spikelets linear, appressed, of 

 from seven to eleven obtuse florets, which have seven ribs with 

 short intermediate ones at the base ; root creeping. Br. FL 

 ed. 3. p. 43. E.Bot. t. 1520. Glyceria fluitans, Br. E. FL 

 v. \. p. 116. Festuca, Linn. 



Ditches and stagnant waters, abundant. Fl. July, Aug. 1. 

 Culms one to three feet high, thick and succulent. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, acute. Ligule oblong, pointed. Panicle subsecund, very 

 long, slender ; calyx-values unequal, small, ovate, membranous, ob- 

 tuse. Corolla-valves ovato-oblong, thrice as long as the calyx ; outer 

 ones scabrous. The scale is of one thick fleshy piece, which is the 

 principal character of Mr. Brown's genus Glyceria. " It yields the 

 Manna-seeds of our shops, which are gathered abundantly in Holland, 

 where, as in Poland and Germany, they are used for food." Hooker. 

 This, like the last, is a sweet juicy grass, and cows are very fond of it. 



3. P. maritima, Huds. Creeping Sea Meadow-grass. Pa- 

 nicle erect, subcoarctate, (rigid) ; spikelets linear, of about five 

 obtuse florets, which are obsoletely 5-nerved; leaves convo- 

 lute; root creeping. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 44. E. Bot. t. 1140. 

 Glyceria marit., E. Fl. v. i. p. 118. Sclerochloa, Lindl. 



Sea-coast, frequent. FL July, Aug. 1. Eight to twelve inches 

 high, rigid, glaucous. Leaves involute, somewhat pungent. Ligule 

 ovate, bluntish. Glumes all firm, cartilaginous, purplish. Calyx- 

 valves nearly as large as the corolla, with mostly three ribs. Florets 

 hairy at the base, sometimes purplish. 



4. P. distans, Linn. Reflexed Meadow-grass. Panicle 

 spreading ; branches at length deflexed ; spikelets linear, of 

 about five obtuse florets, which are obsoletely 5-nerved ; leaves 

 plane ; root fibrous. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 44. E. Bot. t. 986. 

 Glyceria dis(a?is, E. Fl. v. i. p. 118. 



