﻿86 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



tinctly webbed, suspending the calyx, and the outer palea three-ribbed. 

 (See Plate XXXVII.) " 



From Poa nemoralis, in the florets not being webbed, and the pa- 

 nicle short and rigid ; — whereas in P. nemoralis the lower florets are 

 distinctly webbed, suspending the calyx, and the panicle is long and 

 slender. (See Plate XXXVI.) 



From Poa pratensis, in the florets not being webbed, and the upper 

 sheath about equal in length to its leaf; — whereas in P. pratensis the 

 lower florets are copiously webbed, and the upper sheath much longer 

 than its leaf. (See Plate XXXI.) 



It would be unprofitable to apply this grass to any agricultural 

 purpose, as no description of cattle seems to eat it, the leaves being 

 always found entire, while the surrounding foliage of other grasses 

 are cropped close to the ground. This probably is owing to the large 

 quantity of silicious matter contained in the sheaths and stems, which 

 is considerably more than that usually found in other grasses, ren- 

 dering the herbage hard and disagreeable to the mouths of cattle. 

 When dry, it might form a substitute for fine sand- paper, and prove 

 valuable to turners for polishing wood. The minute granular sur- 

 face can be very perceptibly though disagreeably felt by drawing the 

 stem through the teeth. It commences to flower in the last week of 

 June, and ripens its seed about the third week of July. 



The only localities as yet known for this grass are near Edinburgh, 

 where it is occasionally found growing in small patches on rather 

 dry stony soil. 



Specimens are under cultivation in the Botanic Garden of Edin- 

 burgh. 



58. Poa Montana.* 

 Mountain Meadow- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets not webbed. Upper sheath not 

 longer than its leaf. Second sheath extending beyond the first joint. 

 Upper joint about the centre of the stem. Outer palea five-ribbed. 

 Glumes acute, three-ribbed. (Plate XXXIX.) 



Description. — It grows from twelve to eighteen inches high. The 



* Poa nemoralis montana. Koch. 



