538 | THE GRASS FAMILY. 
smaller though rather broader in proportion, seldom attaining 2 lines 
in length. 
In fields and waste places, in southern Europe, and eastward to 
the Caucasus, extending up the west coast of Europe to the English 
Channel. In Britain, in the southern counties of England, and has 
been occasionally found near Cork and Kinsale in Ireland. Fl. summer, 
rather early. 
XXXV. POA. POA. 
Spikelets several-flowered (rarely only 2-flowered), awnless, numerous, 
in a spreading or compact panicle. Outer glumes rather unequal, 
usually keeled. Flowering glumes obtuse or pointed, but not awned, 
scarious at the top, either keeled from the base or at the top only, or 
rounded to the top without any prominent keel. Grain usually but not 
always free from the palea. 
A large genus widely spread over most parts of the world. Although 
in many respects a natural one, its characters and limits are far 
from precise. It differs from Festuca only in its glumes, without 
awns or decided points, and some species have been placed in either 
genus. The first seven species are frequently formed into one, two, or 
more genera, characterised by minute differences in the nerves of the 
elumes or in the shape of the minute floral scales, or of the seed; and 
on the other hand, Catabrosa, Molinia, Triodia, Dactylis, and K eleria, 
although universally admitted, are distinguished by characters of viilid 
little more value. 
[Although Mr. Bentham would in future editions of his Handbook 
have probably adhered to the above limitation of Poa in respect of the 
British species, as best suited for beginners, I think it right to give 
his latest view regarding them, formed upon a study of the genera 
of Grasses of the whole world, and published in the ‘‘Genera Plan- 
tarum”’ (1883). According to that work the following thirteen species 
would be referred to three genera characterised as follows :— 
GLYCERIA.—Flowering glumes convex, obtuse, tips nerveless, awnless. Sp. 1-4. 
FESTUCA.—Flowering glumes convex, tips nerved, acute or awned. Sp. 5, 6, 7 
(together with the other Festucas of this work). 
Poa.—Flowering glumes compressed, keeled, tips nerved, awnless. Sp. 8-13. | 
Tall, aquatic plants. Spikelets not much flattened. Flowering 
elumes rounded on the back, with prominent veins, but not 
distinctly keeled. 
ae large and spreading. Spikelets 3 to 5 lineslong . . 1. P. aquatica. 
anicle long and narrow. Spikelets erect, 6 lines to an inch 
long . - : : : ; é . 2. P. flwitans, 
Plants nit aquatic. 
Panicle 1-sided and stiff. Flowering glumes rounded on the 
back, at least at the base. 
Panicle rather loose, 4 to 6 inches long. Glumes almost nerve- 
less. Stock per ennial. 
Stem creeping at the base. Flowering glume about 13 
lines long. 
Leaf-sheaths much flattened 9. P. compressa. 
Leaf-sheaths not flattened . ‘ 3. P. maritima. 
Stems tufted. Flowering elumes about 1 line long 4. P. distans. 
Panicle compact, seldom 3 inches long. Spikelets crowded. 
Root annual. 
