THE NATURAL GRASSES DESCRIBED 31 



lofty mountain pastures, where its extended culture would be attended with advantage ; 

 for scarcely any other grass will succeed at so great an elevation. 



31. Poa annua (Annual Meadow Grass). Fr. Paturin annuel; Ger. Einjdhriges 

 Rispengras. Stem slightly compressed ; roots fibrous, annual ; average height about nine 

 inches ; in flower most part of the year. The P. annua is the most common grass in all 

 temperate climates, and generally considered as a very troublesome weed. From its being 

 greedily eaten by cows and sheep, it has been recommended as a pasture grass ; but there 

 are two obstacles which tend to prevent its cultivation : viz., the difficulty with which its 

 seeds are collected, owing to the irregularity in which they arrive at maturity, and 

 from being easily shaken out when ripe; and the small bulk of produce. It has, however, 

 been beneficially employed for sowing on greens and bleaching grounds, in towns and 

 places where the perennial grasses are apt to be destroyed in winter. In summer it will 

 ripen its seeds in four or five weeks from the time of sowing. (See illustration facing 

 page 38.) 



32. Poa aquatica ( Water Meadow Grass, or Reedy Water Grass). Fr. Paturin 

 aquaiique; Ger. Wasser Rispengras. Leaves long, broad, tapering to the point, and of a 

 vivid green colour ; root powerfully creeping ; height about six feet on an average, but 

 often much more ; flowers in the latter end of July. Grows naturally in and by the sides 

 of muddy pools, fresh-water lakes, and sluggish rivers, also on rich alluvial soils, more 

 especially on the banks of rivers, where occasionally covered by fresh-water tides. Yields 

 an immense bulk of coarse nutritious herbage ; but is apt, by its rapid growth and creeping 

 roots, to choke up ditches and small streams. It is one of the tallest, and, at same time, 

 the most productive in herbage of all the British grasses. 



33. Poa fluitans (Floating Sweet Meadow, or Water Grass). Fr. Paturin flottante ; 

 Ger. Schwimmendes Sussgras. Leaves long, broad and floating when in deep water ; root 

 fibrous ; height two to three feet. Flowers from May to the end of August. Grows 

 naturally in and by the sides of ditches, pools, rivers, and on alluvial fresh-water marshy 

 soils generally ; and is eaten with avidity by horses, cattle, sheep, and swine. It has been 

 said not to thrive except when constantly in water ; but there are few grasses better adapted 

 for irrigated meadows, and even on moderately dry ground it will yield a considerable 

 produce. Besides being useful as a herbage and forage plant, its seeds are greedily eaten 

 by wild ducks and other marsh fowls ; also by trout and other fresh-water fish. They are 

 very nourishing, and form the mannakroop of the shops (the Semolina of commerce), and 

 are used in soups and gruel. They are rather difficult to collect, in consequence of their 

 irregularity in ripening, and from being easily shaken out when ripe. 



34. Poa nemoralis ( Wood Meadow Grass). Fr. Paturin des bois; Ger. Hainrispen- 

 gras. Leaves plaited at the base, broader and longer than the sheath ; culm of foot-stalk 

 slender, but pretty upright; root fibrous, or slightly spreading, when growing in light sandy soil; 

 flowers in June and July ; height from one and a half to three feet. This grass, as its name 

 implies, is found naturally in shady woods, particularly in alpine situations, and is well 

 adapted for growing under trees ; but will also thrive on exposed places, and even on inferior 

 light soils. Its habit of growth is delicate, upright, close, and regular, with the panicles 

 partially drooping, or bending, when nearly ripe. There is no grass better adapted for 

 pleasure grounds, particularly under trees, as it will not only grow in such places, but form 

 a fine sward, where few of the other fine grasses can exist. It produces foliage in abund- 

 ance early in spring, but grows rather slowly after being cut for seed. From the closeness 

 of its habit of growth, it is found to displace annual and biennial weeds, and also those of 



