258 



BRITISH GRASSES. 



This is a rare plant in England, only occurring occasion- 

 ally in the southern counties, especially in Cornwall, and 



near Cork in Ireland, and in 

 the Channel Islands. The 

 long slender ligule, rough 

 stem, and large comparative 

 size of outer glumes are its 

 distinctive feature. 



Its foreign homes are 

 France, Germany, Switzer- 

 land, Italy, Portugal, Spain, 

 Turkey, Greece, and North 

 Africa. 



It flowers in July, and 

 ripens its seed in August. 

 This plant is as attractive as Briza media in its way, 

 but its smaller size renders it less effective in decora- 

 tions, while its rarity makes it difficult to obtain in any 

 quantity ; these are also disqualifications for agricultural 

 purposes. 



Both these grasses and many of the Airas are admi- 

 rably adapted for natural pictures, and young ladies 

 would do well to exercise their ingenuity in grouping 

 minute sprays of these with detached Forget-me-not 

 blossoms, and the dried starry flowers of the Yellow 

 Pimpernel, for the adornment of valentines, which may 

 thus be made in much better taste than those procured 

 at great cost in the shops. 



Genus XXXV. POA* 



Gen. Char. Inflorescence a simple or compound panicle ; 

 spikelets several-flowered, awnless, ovate- oblong, two-ranked. 



