36 CLASS III. ORDER III. 



the spikelets small and purplish. — Wet grounds. — July. — Pe- 

 rennial. 



PoA AQUATiCA. (?. Tor. Water Spear grass. 



Panicle erect, diffuse, its branches flexuoiis, smooth; 

 spikelets linear, six to eight flowered ; flowrets ovate, 

 obtuse ; leaves broad linear, smooth. 



A tall rank reedy grass, four or five feet high, with a panicle 

 nearly a foot long. — Wet soils. — August, 



PoA MARiTiMA. Sctt Spear grass. 



Panicle branched, somewhat crowded ; spikelets 

 cylindrical, about five flowered, leaves involute, root 

 creeping. 



About a foot high, rigid and glaucous. Panicle erect, spike- 

 lets linear, nerved. When in flower this grass has a beautiful 

 glaucous or purplish appearance. — Salt marshes, Cambridge, 

 Dorchester. — June. — Perennial. 



PoA OBTUSA. Miihl. Obtuse Spear grass. 



Panicle ovate, contracted, spikelets ovate, tumid, 

 five to seven flowered; corolla ovate, smooth, obtuse ; 

 leaves smooth, as long as the culm. 



An aquatic poa with a small dense panicle of large swelling 

 spikelets. — Borders of Fresh Pond. — August. 



Poa hirsuta. 3Ix. Hair Spear grass. 



Panicle very large, loose, capillary ; bearded in the 

 axils ; spikelets about five flowered ; culm erect, com- 

 pressed ; sheaths hairy. 



An elegant grass, with a capillary branching panicle a foot or 

 more in length. Sheaths very hairy. Leaves linear, flat, nerved. 

 Branches of the panicle straight, hairlike. Spikelets oblong, 

 purple. — Dry soils. — August. 



Poa capillaris. L. Capillary Spear grass. 



Panicle very large, loose, capillary ; not hairy ; 

 spikelets about three flowered, ovate, acute. 



