628 
CXIII. GRAMINE2E 
4. Poa himalayana, Fees ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 344. Perennial or 
annual; stems slender, 12-18 in., sometimes ascending. Leaves. 
lly-6 in., up to T V in. broad. Panicle diffuse, flaccid, 2-6 in. ; 
branches naked for more than half their length, the lower ones in 
whorls of 2-4. Spikelets few, ^ in., 2-4-flowered, crowded towards 
the end of the branches. Glumes thin. Outer empty glume 1- 
nerved. Flowering glumes hairy, 5-nerved. Anthers ^ in. 
Simla.— Temperate Himalaya, 7000-13,000 ft. 
5. Poa annua, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 345. Annual or per- 
ennial; stems slender, 6-12 in., often zigzag near the base. 
Leaves flaccid, 2-6 in., up to ^ in. broad. Ligule oblong, pointed. 
Panicle - stiff, 1-3 in., rarely 4 in. ; lower branches in whorls of 2 or 
3, flower-bearing from near the base, usually ultimately deflexed. 
Spikelets numerous, } in., shining, 3-6-flowered. Outer empty 
glume 1-nerved. Flowering glumes 5-nerved, hairy or nearly 
glabrous. Anthers ^ in. 
Simla, common on roadsides. — N. India, ascending to 9000 ft. — N. temperate 
regions, including Britain. 
47. GLYCERIA. From the Greek glukeros, sweet, referring 
to the grain. — Temperate and cold regions. 
*Glyceria tonglensis, C. B. Clarke ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 346. 
Perennial, aquatic ; stems slender, 6-18 in., ascending, the base 
procumbent and creeping in wet ground, often tufted and nearly 
erect in drier places. Leaves 4-8 in., up to ^ in. broad, floating if 
growing in water. Ligule membranous, short, blunt, eared at the 
base. Spikelets few, awnless, green or tinged with purple, glabrous, 
J in., usually 4-flowered (uppermost flower often male), on the 
few short, rigid, spreading branches of a narrow, erect panicle 
4-8 in. long. Bhachilla prolonged, tip naked. Empty glumes 2, 
shorter than the lowest flowering glume, the lower much the 
shorter, lanceolate, thin, transparent. Flowering glumes stiff, 
margins and tip transparent, often torn, ovate-oblong, concave, 
blunt, prominently 7-nerved. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; 
styles 2, distinct, short, feathery. Grain oblong, grooved, free 
within the persistent glumes. 
Temperate Himalaya, 4000-9000 ft., usually growing in ponds or ditches. 
Allied to and resembling the British Glycerin or Poa fluitans. 
48. FESTUCA. A classical name of uncertain derivation 
applied to various herbs. — Generally spread in cold and temper- 
ate regions. 
Perennial, rarely annual ; stems usually tufted, smooth, erect. 
Leaves flat or the margins inrolied. Ligule membranous, short, 
truncate. Spikelets awned except in F. modesta, green or tinged 
