﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 145 



The following new species of grass was sent me by Professor Bal- 

 four after the preceding sheets had passed through the press : — 



Poa Balfouri. * 

 St. John's Meadow- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets slightly webbed. Ligule prominent, 

 obtuse. Upper leaf nearly as long as its sheath. Outer palea five- 

 ribbed. Stem compressed. 



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

 is perennial, creeping. Stem erect, compressed, furnished with a few 

 minute spicula, with their points directed upwards, producing a slight 

 roughness to the touch ; bearing three or four leaves, with scarcely 

 smooth sheaths ; the upper sheath a very little longer than its leaf, 

 crowned with a prominent, obtuse ligule (Fig. 5); second sheath 

 shorter than its leaf, covering the upper joint. Joints three, situated on 

 the lower third of the stem. Leaves confined to the lower part, leaving 

 nearly two-thirds of the stem naked ; all the leaves about equal lengths, 

 short, lanceolate, roughish on the upper surface and edges, smooth behind. 

 Inflorescence simple or compound panicled. Panicle erect, from one 

 to three inches long, spreading when luxuriant ; the branches slender, 

 rough, the lower ones mostly in pairs. Spikelets erect, ovate, of three 

 awnless florets, the summit of the lowermost floret on a level with the 

 apex of the large glume of the calyx ; the three or four uppermost 

 spikelets arising from the rachis, the lower ones on lateral branches. 

 Calyx of two unequal acute glumes (Fig. 1), three-ribbed, the dor- 

 sal rib minutely toothed on the upper third, margins membranous. 

 Florets of two paleae, (Fig. 2) ; the outer palea of lowermost floret 

 equal in length to the large glume of the calyx, five-ribbed, the rib 

 on each side of the dorsal rib not hairy, and rather indistinct, (unless 

 the paleabe opened, and held between the lens and light) ; lower half 

 of the dorsal and marginal ribs hairy ; base of the two lowermost flo- 

 rets furnished with three or four long silky convoluted hairs, which 

 seem but slightly attached to the calyx. Inner palea about equal in 

 length to the outer palea, with two green marginal ribs minutely 



* Poa Balfouri, Parnell, — so named in honour of Dr Balfour, Professor of Botany 

 in the University of Glasgow. 



