﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. iJO 



broad and almost invariably flat ; ribs of the glumes very prominent, 

 and the central rib of the palea extending slightly beyond the sum- 

 mit (See Plate XLI1.) 



Poa maritima grows naturally near the sea, especially in salt marsh- 

 es. It occurs in many places along the coasts of Scotland and Ire- 

 land. In England it is found on the coasts of Northumberland, 

 Durham, Anglesea, Glo'ster, Norfolk, Kent, Sussex, Somerset, and 

 Devon ; also a native of Lapland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, 

 France, Italy, Iceland, and North America. 



Flowers in the first week of July, and ripens its seed early in Au- 

 gust. 



63. Poa procumbens. * 

 Procumbent Sea Meadow-Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets not webbed. Glume with three very 

 prominent ribs. Outer palea five-ribbed, the middle rib extending 

 beyond the summit. Rachis and branches rough to the touch. Up- 

 per sheath longer than its leaf. (See Plate XLII). 



Description. — It grows from three to fifteen inches long. The root 

 is annual. Stem more or less prostrate, round, smooth, and polished ; 

 bearing three leaves with smooth striated sheaths ; the upper sheath 

 much longer than its leaf, situated near the panicle, crowned with an 

 oblong membranous ligule ; second sheath extending beyond the first 

 joint. Joints three, smooth. Leaves flat, ribbed, rough on the inner 

 surface, smooth behind at the base, sharp at the points. Inflorescence 

 simple or compound panicled. Panicle mostly close, of a lanceolate 

 form, unilateral, leaving the rachis behind perfectly bare ; the branches 

 rough, slightly spreading while in flower, but never defiexed. Spike- 

 lets linear (Fig. 3), generally of five florets, the summit of the lower- 

 most floret extending considerably beyond the large glume of the ca- 

 lyx. Calyx of two unequal membranous obtuse glumes (Fig. 1), with 

 three prominent ribs, the large glume occasionally with a short addi- 

 tional rib. Florets of two palea? (Fig. 2) ; the outer palea of lower- 

 most floret five-ribbed, slightly hairy at the base ; the middle rib ex- 



* Poa procwnbens, Curtis, Hooker. Glycena procumbem, Smith. Sclerochloa procum- 

 bens, Lindley. 



