104 POA AQUATICA. 



Abroad it is a native of France, Italy, Germany, Norway, 

 Russia, Sweden, and North America. 



Stem erect, strong, smooth, striated, bearing seven or eight 

 flat, lengthy, broad, roxigh-pointed leaves, with harsh sheaths, 

 the upper one longer than its leaf, and having at its apex a 

 brief, broad ligule. Joints smooth, six to eight in number. 

 Inflorescence compound-panicled. Panicle upright, large, branches 

 rough, situated alternately in half-whorls on the rachis. Spike- 

 lets many, upright, having from four to eight florets, the upper 

 ones large and ovate, the others smaller and narrower. Calyx 

 consisting of two membranous, unequal-sized, blunt glumes, 

 destitute of lateral ribs. Florets not webbed, consisting of two 

 awnless palea?. The exterior palea of lowest floret seven-ribbed. 

 Stigmas compound and plumose. Styles larger than the stigmas. 

 Length from three to six feet. Root perennial and creeping. 



Flowers about the middle of July, and ripens its seed in a 

 month. 



The specimen for illustration was gathered near Gee-Cross, 

 Cheshire, by Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, of Manchester. 



