POA. 407 



L. long, linear, attenuate, all from near the base of the stem. 

 Panicle purplish, close. ft. M. depauperate* (Lindl.) ; spikelets 

 1-fl. few. P. 19. y. major ; pan-branches long, spikelets dis- 

 tant of about 3 fl., at. 34 feet high [A form with broader and 

 blunter gl. and pales is M. ccerulea var. obtusa (Hackel).] Wet heaths. 

 |8. Alpine places. P. VII. VIII. E. S. I. 



35. PO'A Linn. Meadow-grass. 



* Hoot fibrous, annual. Base of stem sometimes prostrate and 

 rooting. Pan.-branches solitary or in pairs. 



1. P. arimia (L.) ; pan. spreading erect with a triangular 

 outline, spikelets ovate-oblong of 5 or 6 free fl., lower pale with 

 5 veins, upper sheath longer than its leaf, ligule oblong acute. 

 E.. 1141. P. 40, 41. St. ascending or prostrate. L. 

 flaccid, often wavy, broad. Spikelets subsecund with patent 

 or divaricate branches. [3. P. supina (Schrad.) ; pan. lax its br. 

 deflexed, spikelets larger and blunter, variegated with purple.] \'ery 

 common. [/3. Mountains.] A. III. IX. E. S. I. 



** Root fibrous, perennial. 



t Lower pan.-branches solitary or in pairs. Dorsal and 

 marginal veins of the lower pale hairy. 



2. P. bulbosa (L.) ; pan. close erect, spikelets ovate of 3 or 4 

 acute webbed 1 fl., lower pale with 3 silky veins, upper sheath 

 belpw the middle of the st. much longer than its leaf, ligule 

 prominent acute. E. B. 1071. P. 89. Root fibrous. Base of 

 the st. and offsets swollen, bulblike. L. with a narrow white 

 serrate edge. The st. soon wither, and the tubers lie loose 

 until the autumn. Sandy seashore of the South and East. 

 P. IV, V. E. 



3. P. minor (Gaud.) 2 ; pan. oblong subovate, spikelets of 3 or 

 4 iv ebbed fl., lower pale with 5 veins but only 3 hairy, upper 

 sheaf longer than its leaf which is folded and slightly incurved 

 but tapering at the tip, uppermost knot covered, upper ligule 

 long acute, lower ones short rather blunt. P. Jlexuosa Sm., 



1 That is, connected together by fine cottony fibres growing from 

 the base of each flower : when these are wanting, the fl. is said to be 



free. 



2 There is a note in the Author's MS. "Join laxa to alpina" 

 Mr. G. C. Druce in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxxvi. p. 421, refers Sp. 3 to 

 P. laxa (Haenke) and Sp. 4 to P. alpina } var. acutifolia (Druce). H. & 

 J. G. 



