Poa. | LXXXIX. GRAMINEA. 537 
spikelet. Lateral nerves of the flowering glumes 
very faint ; , - ; é : 4 . 10. P. pratensis. 
No creeping scions. Flowers 2 or rarely 3 in the spike- 
let. Lateral nerves as the eee peat con- 
Spicuous . 5 . . il. P. triviahis. 
1, P. aquatica, ae We 1232), eects Poa.—A stout, reed-like 
perennial, 4 to 6 feet high, with a creeping rootstock. Leaves flat and 
* very rough on the edges. Panicle much branched, spreading, nearly a 
— foot long. Spikelets numerous, with 5 to 8 or 10 flowers. Outer glumes 
unequal, thin, and l-nerved. Flowering glumes about 13 lines long, 
loosely imbricated, strongly 5- or 7-ribbed, rather obtuse, and scarious at 
the top. Glyceria aquatica, Sm. 
In wet ditches, and shallow waters, throughout Europe and temperate 
Asia, except the extreme north, andin North America. Frequent in Eng- 
land and Ireland, rarer in Scotland. Fl. summer. 
2. ®.fluitans, Scop. (fig. 1233). Mloating |Poa.—An aquatic peren- 
nial, often 2 or 3 feet high or more, with rather thick but weak stems, 
creeping at the base; the leaves often floating on the surface of the water. 
Panicle erect and slender, a foot long or more; the branches few and 
usually erect, Spikelets few, $ to 1 inch long, with from about 8 to near 
20 flowers. Outer glumes unequal, thin, andl-nerved. Flowering glumes 
loosely imbricated, 14 to near 3 lines long, strongly 5- or 7-ribbed, scarious 
at the top, obtuse or slightly pointed. Glyceria fluitans, Br. 
In wet ditches, and stagnant or slow-running waters, throughout Europe 
and Russian Asia, except the extreme north, and in North America. 
Common in Britain. 7%. all summer. [P. plicata, Fries., is a variety 
with broader flowering glumes. ] 
_/ 3. P. maritima, Huds. (fig. 1234). Sea Poa.—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 13 lines long, all 
rounded on the back, obtuse and scarious at the top, and faintly 5-nerved, 
the lowest outer one rather smaller. Glyceria, Wahlb., Sclerochloa, 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. 2U. summer. 
4, P.distans, Linn. (fig. 1235). Reflered Poa,—Very near P. mari- 
tama, 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. Scherochloa 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. PB. procumbens, Curt. (fig. 1236). Procumbent Poa.——A tufted 
