TRIANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Poa. 127 



mens, and is a competent judge. The stipulas of the above 3 

 varieties are all alike. 

 As an object of agriculture P. pratensis is not less valuable than 

 the trivialis. It is earlier in leaf, and will thrive with less 

 moisture, though the latter produces, at last, a better crop. 

 Mr. Curtis and several other able botanists have rendered great 

 service to the farmer in directing his attention to such objects, 

 and it is undoubtedly worth his while to be select in seed for 

 grass lands. But, after all. Nature is supreme in the accommo- 

 dation of particular grasses to certain soils and situations, and 

 whatever we may sow, unless we have well studied her laws, 

 she finally triumphs. 



7. P. annua. Annual Meadow-grass. 



Panicle widely spreading. Spikelets ovate, five-flowered. 

 Florets a little remote, five-ribbed, without a web. Stems 

 oblique, compressed. 



P. annua. Linn. Sp. PL 99. IVilld. v. 1.390. Fl. Br. \05. En^l. 



Bot. u. 16. f. 1141. Curt. Lond.fasc. 1.^6. Mart. Rust. t. 98- 



Stillingflt t. 7. Knapp t 52. Hook. Scot. 3.5. Schrad. Germ. 



V. 1. 304. Host Gram. v. 2. 46. t. 64. Leers29. t. 6./. 1. Ehrh. 



Calam. 106. 

 P. n. 1466. Hall. Hist. v. 2. 223. 

 Gramen pratense paniculatum minus. Bauh. Theatr. 30. f. 31. 



Scheuchz. Agr. 189. t. 3./. 17, E. 

 G. pratense minus, seu vulgatissimum. Rail Syn. 408. 

 G. pratense minimum album. Moris, v. 3. 201. sect. 8. t. b.f. 21. 

 G. minimum album. Ger. Em. 3./. 



In meadows, pastures, waste and cultivated ground, every where, 

 except in alpine situations. 



Annual. April — Nov. 



Root fibrous. Stems several, pale, very smooth, somewhat com- 

 pressed, leafy, jointed, branched at the base, spreading in every 

 direction, and taking root at many of their lower joints ; their 

 length from 3 to 12 inches. Leaves of a fine light green, spread- 

 ing, linear, bluntish, flaccid, roughish at the edges only, fiat, 

 except a crumpled portion here and there, characteristic of the 

 .species, though not absolutely peculiar to it. Sheaths long, com- 

 pressed, smooth. Stipula oblong and acute at the upper leaves ; 

 shorter, obtuse, and jagged at many of the lower ones. Panicle 

 smaller than in the two last, more lax, its outline, as Haller re- 

 marks, triangular ; its branches most directed to one side, all 

 nearly smooth. Spikelets variegated with green and white, ovate, 

 externally smooth and polished. Florets 5 or 6 ; their outer 

 valves 5-ribbed, silky at the edges and back ; inner notched, 

 rough-edged. There is no web or hairiness at the base. Anth. 



