PLATE 455. 



PoA ANNUA, Linn. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII, p. 715). 



Nat. Order GraiTiineis. 



Annual or subperennial, tufted, glabrous. — Culms erect from a geniculate 

 and often rooting base, from a few inches to 1 foot long, slightly compressed below, 

 smooth ; internodes exserted or enclosed ; sheaths rather loose, slightly compressed, 

 smooth ; ligules oblong to ovate, up to l^ line broad ; blades linear, acute, ^ to 1^ 

 inch (rarely longer), by 1 to 1 J line, flat, flaccid ; margins scaberulous. 



Panicle rather stifl", ovate, lax, up to Sj inches long, often subsecund ; the 

 lower branches 2- (rarely 3 to 5) nate or solitary, spreading, ultimately often 

 deflexed, up to If inch long, branched from the middle, smooth. 



Spikelets more or less crowded, oblong-ovate or ovate, green or sometimes 

 purplish, 2 to 2|- lines long, 3 to 7-flowered, louver glume lanceolate., acute, 1 to 1;^ 

 line long, 1 -nerved to sub-3-nerved, iqjper slightly longer, ovate when expanded, 

 3-nerved. Valves oblong, obtuse or subacute, l^ line long ; margins and tips 

 broadly hyaline ; nerves slightly prominent, silkily ciliate below, along the keel 

 and the outer side-nerves, rarely glabrescent, without connecting wool (in the type) ; 

 pales slightly shorter than the valves, keels ciliate ; anthers § line long ; grain 

 oblong, J-1 line long. 



Eabitat : Natal. Cooper 3362. 



Throughout Europe and temperate Asia, uitroduced into most other temperate 

 regions, rare in the tropics. 



Drawn from a specimen in the Government Herbarium, No. 10,133, which 

 was sent to us without locality, and identified by Miss Franks. 



This grass is common in England, but is not considered to be of much, if any, 

 agricultural value. 



Fi^ 1, A spikelet ; 2, lower glume ; 3, upjDer glume ; 4, valve ; 5, pale ; 6, pistil, stamens, 

 and lodicules. All enlarcfed. 



