Order GRAMINEiE. 
Genus Poa. 
Sub-Order Festucace,®, 
3.—POA ANCEPS, Var. «, elata. 
NODDING PLUMED POA. 
{Plate XL IV. A.) 
Poa anceps, Forst. Var. A, elata, Hook, fil., FI. N.Z., I., 306. 
Poa anceps, Forst. Var. A, elata, Hook, fil., Handb. N.Z. FI., I., 339. 
A large tufted or tussac grass, found at low altitudes. Perennial. Culm erect, stout, leafy, 2 — 3 feet 
high, glabrous, striated, compressed at the base. Leaves longer than the culm, distichous, flexuose, flat, 
smooth, and finely striated; sheaths narrow, sharply keeled on the back; ligule very short. Panicle 
inclined or drooping, 6—12 inches long, ovate, effuse ; branches whorled, capillary. Spikelets numerous, 
1—! inch long, flat, 4—6-flowered, green, finely scabridous. Empty glumes 3-nerved. Flowering glume 
5-nerved, and with tufts of long flocculent silky hairs at the base. Palea 2-fid, 2-nerved. Scale acute 
or obutse. Anthers long. Distribution of Var. a, elata: NEW ZEALAND. 
An abundant grass in the North Island, very variable in size. The large drooping panicle and lax 
leaves much longer than the culm form its best distinction from the next variety, B. foliosa, and its 
broad leaves and large spikelets from Pua Australis, Var. Icevis. Often assuming the large tussacy 
habit of the latter species in both Islands, and affording in some districts an abundant supply of a 
coarse though nutritious food for horses and cattle, this is one of the larger grasses of which a 
considerable part is always refused by stock, through their inability to graze it, but which would be 
readily eaten if cut down, and cured as hay, in the flowering season. The present grass may be 
considered as the type of the genus in New Zealand, being connected by a gradation of varieties with 
all the other species. The varying form of the scale, as its growth proceeds, is very marked in the 
genus Poa. Thus, in the early stage of growth, it is very short and obtuse, and continues increasing in 
length and acuteness till the grain is fully formed, and it may therefore be found varying on the same 
panicle. Distribution in New Zealand: NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND (common). 
Reference to Plate XLIV. A : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4,4'. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. p Scale. 8, 8'. Grain, front 
and side views. 
