122 



Botanical Section 



[PT I 



Phleum arenarium, L. (Sea Cat's-tail.) Frequent in many 

 places on sandy shores of the British Isles. An annual, seldom 

 exceeding 15 inches in height. It may be readily distinguished 

 from P. pratense by the following points: its spike-like panicle 

 tapers distinctly below ; the glumes are lanceolate in form, acutely 

 pointed but without awn-points, and their inner margins are 

 fringed with fine hairs. 



The "seeds" may be distinguished by their smaller size, and 

 by the absence of a central point or spur at the top of the outer 

 palea. Flowers about July. 



Poa. The common British species 

 of this genus have numerous 2-8 flowered 

 spikelets in spreading panicles. The 

 outer palece have no awns or awn-points. 

 Poa alpina, L. (Alpine Poa.) 

 A perennial, occurring on the High- 

 lands of North Britain. Shoots much 

 compressed, blades short, broad, and 

 bluntly pointed. Ligule of upper leaf 

 long and pointed, sheaths entire. 

 Flowers in May or June ; culms about 

 6-12 inches high; panicle rather close 

 and erect; spikelets 3-5 flowered, the 

 flowers without "webs." 



"Seeds." Outer palea 3-4 mm. 

 long, its upper margins membranous, 

 and its apex acute; very distinctly 

 keeled, and hairy — especially on the 

 lower part of the keel and marginal 

 ribs. No intermediate nerves between 

 Rachilla cylindrical, smooth or hairy. 



Fig. 135 



Fig. 136 



Fig. 135. " Seed" of Poa alpina. 

 x 10. Note the absence of 

 a "web" ; the numerous 

 long hairs on the ribs, and 

 the membranous margins 

 of the outer palea. 



Fig. 136. "Seed" of Poa an- 

 nua, x 10. Note the re- 

 latively stout and promi- 

 nent rachilla, and the ab- 

 sence of a " web." 



(Fig. 144.) See 



keel and marginal ribs. 

 (Fig. 135.) 



Poa annua, L. (Annual Meadow-grass.) 

 p. 158. 



A little tufted annual abundant on gravel paths and waste 

 places generally. Its foliage is entirely glabrous and of a dull 

 pale-green colour. Young shoots flattened. Sheaths split and 

 keeled. Blades conduplicate, keeled below, ribless above, broadest 



