MEADOWS AND PASTURES 21 
Poa trivialis, the Roughish Meadow-grass, so closely resembles 
P. pratenszs that the novice is not likely at first sight to notice any 
difference. The absence of subterranean stolons in the former is 
an unequivocal distinction. Rootstock tufted, not creeping. Leaves 
flat, narrow, tapering gradually from the base, keeled, not ribbed, 
slightly rough on both surfaces and on the margins; sheaths also 
roughish, which is discovered by drawing them downwards through 
the fingers ; ligule long and pointed. Culms 13-2 feet. Panicle 
pyramidal, diffuse, erect, and pale green, the branches 5-6 at each 
insertion. Spikelets about 4 inch long, usually 3-flowered ; glumes 
as in P. pratensis, the flowering glumes with five distinct nerves, 
the dorsal one hairy. Perennial, flowering 
middle of June, July. Var. 2. Kelerz, 
found in woods, has smooth sheaths. Var. 
P. parvifiora is a slender plant, with the 
spikelets 1- or 2-flowered. 
Cynosurus cristatus, the Crested Dogstail 
(fig. 16), has a rather tufted rootstock, with 
numerous short stolons. Leaves flat, short, 
and narrow, tapering from the base, ribbed 
and keeled, bluish-green above, shining 
beneath, without auricles; basal sheaths 
yellow. Culms a foot or more high. 
Panicle spikelike, linear, unilateral, 2-3 
inches long, stiff. Spikelets about ¢ inch 
long, in pairs; the uppermost spikelet of 
each pair 2- to 5-flowered, the other spike- 
let sterile, consisting of about eight empty 
mucronate glumes. This dual character of 
the spikelets distinguishes Cynosurus from 
all other British grasses. Flowering glumes 
rounded on the back, 3-nerved, scabrid in 
the upper part, and tipped with a very 
short awn. The flowerless spikelets are 
sometimes viviparous. Perennial, flower- pig. 16,—Cynosuruscrista: 
ing from close of June to August. tus ; figures to left enlarged, 
Holcus lanatus, the Meadow Soft-grass_ the lower one a pair of spike- 
(fig. 8), has a densely tufted rootstock, never jts lume and pale 
creeping. Leaves flat, rather broadly linear- 
lanceolate, velvety and whitish-green with the soft hairs clothing 
both surfaces; ribs uneven, some being prominent, others very low ; 
basal sheaths white, with red veins—a peculiarity by which the 
plant is easily identified when not in flower. Culms, 1-2 feet. 
Panicle with short branches, mostly in pairs, spreading at the 
time of flowering; at once recognised by its colour—pale green 
or white, suffused with pink. Spikelets + inch long, downy, con- 
taining two flowers, the lower of which is perfect and its glume 
awnless, the upper flower pedicelled, staminate, its glume having a 
dorsal awn, which reaches to the tip of the spikelet, and ultimately 
curves into a hook; flowering glumes smooth and shining. Per- 
