GRAM1NEJS. 



1009 



moist mountain rocks throughout Europe and Kussian Asia from the 

 Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. Frequent in Britain. Fl. sum- 

 mer. A mountain variety, often distinguished under the name of P. 

 ccesia, has the stems usually shorter, the panicle less branched, and the 

 spikelets rather longer, but it passes gradually into the common form. 



13. Wavy Poa. Poa laxa, Haenke. (Fig. 1229.) 

 (P. flexuosa, Eng. Bot. t. 1123. P. minor, Bab. Man.) 



A tufted or slightly creeping perennial, 

 seldom a foot high, near the alpine P., 

 but more slender, with narrower and 

 more numerous leaves. Panicle loose, 

 with few spreading branches. Spikelets 

 rather larger than in the alpine P., 

 from 1 to 3 on each branch of the panicle, 

 ovate, each with 3 or 4 flowers. Glumes 

 about 2 lines long, more pointed than in 

 most Poas. 



An alpine species, confined to high 

 northern latitudes, or to great eleva- 

 tions in the mountains of Europe, Rus- 

 sian Asia, and North America. In Bri- 

 tain, only on Ben Nevis and Loch-na- 

 Grar, in Scotland, where it is usually in 

 a viviparous state, and then not easily 

 distinguished from the alpine P. I my- 

 self have seen no Scotch specimens that I could refer with certainty 

 to the wavy P. 



Fig. 1229. 



14. Alpine Poa. Poa alpina, Linn. (Fig. 1230.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1003.) 



Stems tufted, often swollen at the base, but not so much so as in the 

 bulbous P., 6 inches to a foot high. Leaves short, rather broad, mostly 

 radical or nearly so, and when perfect have a short inflected point. 

 Panicle ovoid, about 2 inches long, rather spreading, with short but 

 slender branches. Spikelets crowded, ovate, 3- to 5 -flowered. Flower- 

 ing glumes pointed and keeled ; the lateral nerves not prominent, with 

 a few minute silky hairs on the keel and edges, but with little or no 

 wool at their base on the axis of the spikelet. 



