538 THE GKASS FAMILY. [Briza. 



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 

 glumes or in the shape of the minute floral scales, or of the seed ; and 

 on the other hand, Catabrosa, Molinia, Triodia, Dactylis, and Koeleria, 

 although universally admitted, are distinguished by characters of very 

 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 : — 



GrLYCEMA. — 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). 

 Po A.— Flowering glumes compressed, keeled, tips nerved, awnless. Sp. 8-13.] 



Tall, aquatic plants. Spikelets not much flattened. Flowering 

 glumes rounded on the back, with prominent veins, but not 

 distinctly keeled. 

 Panicle large and spreading. Spikelets 3 to 5 lines long . . 1. P. aquatica. 

 Panicle long and narrow. Spikelets erect, 6 lines to an inch 



long 2. P.jluitans. 



Plants not 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 perennial. 

 Stem creeping at the base. Flowering glume about 1| 

 lines long. 



Leaf -sheaths much flattened 9. P. compressa. 



Leaf-sheaths not flattened 3. P. maritima. 



Stems tufted. Flowering glumes about 1 line long . . 4. P. distans. 

 Panicle compact, seldom 3 inches long. Spikelets crowded. 

 Root annual. 



