TRANSACTIONS 



OF 



THE LINNEAN SOCIETY. 



I. Observations on the Genera of European Crrasses. By Joseph Woods, Esq., 



F.L.S. 



Read February 21st, and April 4th, 1837. 



It has often been observed, that where a great number of plants is united in 

 a very natural class it is difficult to distinguish the genera, and that where the 

 genera are natural it is often hardly possible to discriminate the species. Both 

 these difficulties occur among the grasses. Forming in themselves a very 

 closely allied group, they are hardly to be separated into genera, which, pos- 

 sessing a still greater similarity among themselves, shall preserve a distinction 

 of habit and appearance from the rest ; and it is not even easy to find artificial 

 characters which shall distinguish a group, however formed, from the rest 

 of the tribe, nor in many cases a single species from those most nearly allied 

 to it. 



My business at present is, however, with the Genera ; and with such genera 

 only as occur within the limits of a projected work on the botany of the most 

 frequented parts of Europe ; that is to say, of the British Islands, France, the 

 Low Countries, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. My knowledge of these 

 genera was so imperfect, that it seemed impossible to proceed without entering 

 into a pretty minute examination of them, and the result of this examination 

 I now offer to the Linnean Society. 



VOL. XVIII. B 



