er 
540 THE GRASS FAMILY. [Poa. 
3. P. maritima, Huds. (fig. 1238). Sea P.—A perennial, with a 
creeping rootstock and decumbent or erect stems, attaining about a 
foot in height. Leaves rather short, narrow, and usually convolute. 
Panicle erect, rather stiff, 3 or 4 inches long, or sometimes more; the 
branches erect, or the lower ones spreading. Spikelets not numerous, 
shortly stalked, all turned to one side of the branches, each about 6 
lines long, and containing about 6 or 8 flowers. Glumes nearly 1% lines 
long, all rounded on the back, obtuse and scarious at the top, and faintly 
5-nerved, the lowest outer one rather smaller. Glyceria maritima, Wahlb., 
Sclerochloa maritima, Lindl. 
In maritime sands, common on the coasts of Europe and western 
Asia. From the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and in North > 
America. Frequent all round the British Isles. Fl. swmmer. 
4, P. distans, Linn. (fig. 1239). Reflewed P.—Very near P. maritima, 
of which it may possibly prove to be a mere variety. The stock is 
- tufted or the stems scarcely creep at the base; the leaves are flatter, 
the stems taller and more slender, the panicle much more spreading, 
with long, slender branches, and the spikelets smaller, the glumes not 
above a line long. Glyceria distans, Wahlb. Sclerochloa distans and 
Borrert, Bab. 
In sandy pastures, and waste places, chiefly near the sea, in Europe 
and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Ciréle, and 
in North America. In Britain, in the maritime counties of England, 
Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. summer. _ 
5. P. procumbens, Curt. (fig. 1240). Procuwmbent P.—A tufted 
annual, with decumbent stems, 6 or 8 inches long, or very seldom attain- 
ing afoot. Leaves flat. Panicle branched and 1-sided as in the last 
two species, but much more compact, seldom above 2 inches long. 
Spikelets rather crowded, nearly sessile along the branches, about 4- 
flowered. Glumes as in P. maritima, but rather smaller, stiffer, with 
the nerves more conspicuous. Glyceria procumbens, Dumort. Sclerochloa 
procumbens, Beauv. Festuca procumbens, Kunth. 
In waste ground near the sea, in western Europe, from the Spanish 
Peninsula to Holland, temperate Asia, and North America. Occurs on 
various parts of the coasts of England, and Ireland, rare. Fl. summer. 
6. P. rigida, Linn. (fig. 1241). Hard P.—A tufted annual, usually 
about 6 inches high, with stiff stems, erect or slightly decumbent at 
the base. Panicle lanceolate, 1-sided, about 2 inches long, rather 
crowded; the branches slightly spreading. Spikelets on short, stiff 
pedicels, linear, about 3 lines long, each with about 6 or 8 flowers. 
Flowering glumes scarcely a line long, rather obtuse, with very faint 
lateral nerves, the outer empty pair more pointed and more distinctly 
nerved. Glyceria rigida, Sm. Sclerochloa rigida, Linn. Festuca rigida, 
Kunth. 
In waste, dry, or stony places, in central and southern Europe, not 
uncommon on dry rocky and stony places in England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. Fl. summer. 
7. P. loliacea, Huds. (fig. 1242). Darnel P.—A tufted annual, like 
the last, but usually smaller and stiffer; the panicle reduced to an 
almost simple spike, along which the spikelets are almost sessile, in 2 
rows, on alternate sides of the axis, but all turning one way; the lower 
ones often 2 or 8 together in a sessile cluster. Hach spikelet is about 
») ae . 
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