540 THE GEASS 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 1J lines 

 long, all rounded on the back, obtuse and scarious at the top, and faintly 

 5-nerved, the lowest outer one rather smaller. Olyceria 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. summer. 



4. P. distans, Linn. (fig. 1239). Refiexed 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. Olyceria distans, Wahlb. Sclerochloa distans and 

 Borreri, Bab. 



In sandy pastures, and waste places, chiefly near the sea, in Europe 

 and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and 

 in North America. In Britain, in the maritime counties of England, 

 Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. summer. 



5. P. procumbens, Curt. (fig. 1240). Procumbent P. — A tufted 

 annual, with decumbent stems, 6 or 8 inches long, or very seldom attain- 

 ing a foot. 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 3 together in a sessile cluster. Each spikelet is about 



