along the keel, for the rest smooth, not attaining the summit of the florets. The florets 

 surrounded at the base by long, arachnoid hairs. Pales equally long, about 2 mm. in 

 length, the lower one broad, ovate, rather subobtuse at the apex, with a membranous 

 margin, 5-nerved, near the apex with a violet or yellowish-brown stain, in the lower half, 

 along the keel, with long hairs. The upper pale is narrow, membranous, with a hairy 

 margin, rounded at the apex, with a copper spot, so characteristic for the species. Culms 

 caespitose, thin, slender, but erect and straight, from 20 to 30 cm. high, completely glab- 

 rous. Leaves to 2 mm. broad, like the narrow sheaths slightly rough, or nearly smooth, 

 gradually finely pointed towards the summit. Ligules short, 0,5 mm. in length, truncate, 

 or subobtuse. 



Fig. 75. Poa eaesia Smith subspec. esuriens nov. subspec. 

 a and b. Spikelets. — c. Glumes. — d. Floret. 



In point of external habitus this plant somewhat resembles Poa nemoralis vat. 

 montana, but is distinguished by having marked ligules and the panicle-branches long, 

 Spreading, flexuous and very rough, the spikelets hardly one half as large, each one 

 with 1 or 2 flowers only, the pales of which are rather oblique-truncate, obtuse at the 

 apex, and the leaves more tapering to a point upwards. 



In point of its small and reduced spikelets it may also somewhat resemble Poa 

 nemoralis var. michranta Hartm. 



Our plant also seemed to bear a rather close resemblance to Poa Balfomii, but differs 

 distinctly from it by having the culms solitary, much higher and more slender, and with 

 visible, uncovered nodes. The upper internode of the culm is not so much prolonged. 

 The ligules are shorter, only about 0,5 mm. long, obtuse. The leaves are very narrow, 

 nearly completely glabrous, from 5 to 7 cm. long. It differs from Poa Balfourii especial- 

 ly in the shape of the panicle and in the considerably greater floweriness. Thus, it 

 is not contracted, but distinctly spread out, with very fine, flexuous, and scabrous 



13.5 



