608 THE GEASS FAMILY. 



green leav.es. Panicle loose and spreading, IJ to 3 inches long, with slender 

 branches. Spikelets all stalked, oblong or linear, each with from 3 to 6 or 

 rarely more flowers. Flowering glumes scarious at the top, keeled from the 

 base ; the lateral nerves also slightly prominent when dry, without woolly 

 hairs on the axis of the spikelet, but very minutely silky -haiiy on the keel. 



In cultivated and waste places, most abundant in the temperate regions 

 of the northern hemisphere, but extending iuto almost every part of the 

 globe. Very common in Britain, and a chief ingredient in the grass of some 

 of the London Parks. Fl. nearly the tvhole year round. It will often ger- 

 minate, flower, ripen and shed its seeds, and die away, in the course of a few 

 ■weeks. 



9. Flattened Foa. Foa compressa, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 365, and P. polynoda, Bab. Man.) 

 A perennial, seldom above a foot high, with a creeping rootstock, and erect 

 stems more or less flattened at the base. Leaves rather short, with flattened 

 sheaths and a short, obtuse ligula. Panicle oblong, 2 to 3 inches long, 

 slightly spreading, but rather crowded, with many of the spikelets sessile, 

 and the branches turned towards one side, but not so much so as in the 

 procumbent and the sea P. Spikelets ovate-oblong, usually 4- to 6-flowered, 

 with occasionally a few woolly hairs on the axis. Flowering glumes about 

 a hne long, with minute silky hairs along the keel ; the lateral nerves not 

 prominent. 



On dry, barren, waste ground, and frequently on walls, in temperate and 

 southern Europe, in Russian Asia, and North America, extending far into 

 Scandinavia, but not an Arctic plant. Frequent in England, Ireland, and 

 southern Scotland, but apparently not further north. FL all summer. 



10. Meado'^ Foa. Foa pratensis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. \Oli, and P. subccerulea, t. 1004.) 



A perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, with a more or less creeping rootstock or 

 emitting creeping scions aboveground. Leaves rather narrow, with a 

 short, obtuse ligula. Panicle 2 to 3 inches long, with slender, spreading 

 branches. Spikelets numerous, ovate or oblong, all or nearly all stalked, 

 each with about 4 flowers. Flowering glumes rather more than a Une long, 

 with minute sUky hairs on the keel ; the lateral nerves scarcely prominent. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and central and Russian 

 Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, in North America, and 

 reappearing in the southern hemisphere. Abundant m Britain. Fl. summer, 

 commencing early. 



11. Roughish Foa. Foa trivialis^ Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1072.) 



Very near the meadoic P., but there are no creeping scions; the stems are 

 usually taUer and more slender; the ligula of the leaf longer; the panicle 

 more slender, often 6 inches long, with slender, spreading branches ; the 

 spikelets have seldom more than 3 flowers, and usually only 2. Flowering 

 glumes as in the meadow P., except that the lateral nerves are much more 

 conspicuous. 



In meadows and pastures, with the same geographical range as the mea- 

 dow P., and at least as common. Abundant also in Britain. FL summer, 

 commencing early. 



