129 



POA ANNUA. 



Linnjeus. Hookee and Aenott. Smith. Paenell. Geeville. Kocn. 



WlLLDENOW. CUETIS. MaETTN. StILLINGFLEET. KnAFP. 



SCHEADEE. H.OST. LeEES. EHEHAET. DeaIUN. SlNCLAIE. LlNDLEY. 



KuNTH. MaCEEIGHT. BaBINGTON. ReICHENBACH. DlLLWYN. 



Ealfs. Hudson. Witheeing. Hull. Reman. Sibmobp. Abbot. 



PLATE XL. B. 



The Annual Meadow- Grass. 



Poa — Grass. Annua — An annual. 



The commonest of all Grasses, growing in every conceivable 



situation, and flowering throughout the summer. Found in all 

 altitudes up to four thousand feet. Not a profitable agricultural 

 Grass. 



Found also in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, 

 Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lapland, North Africa, 

 North Asia, and in North and South America. 



Stem ascending, most procumbent at the base, smooth, flattish, 

 bearmg four or five smooth, flat, flaccid, sword-shaped, vivid 

 green leaves, often crumpled on the margins, with smooth com- 

 pressed sheaths; upper sheath longer than its leaf, having a 

 thin membranous acute ligule at the apex. Inflorescence com- 

 pound-panicled. Panicle upright, outline triangular and spreading. 

 Branches smooth, mostly in pairs. Spikelets ovate-oblong, 

 mostly of five to eight awnless florets, commonly tinged with 

 green, white, and purple; apex of basal floret stretching beyond 

 the large glume of the calyx. Calyx of two unequal acute 

 glumes, three-ribbed, dorsal rib dentate above. Florets of two 



