Order GRAMINEflE. 
Genus Poa. 
Sub-Order Festucace^e. 
3.—POA AN CEPS, Var. l minima. 
MINUTE CREEPING POA. 
(Plate XL FI. F.) 
A very small creeping-rooted grass. Perennial. Culms 1—2 inches high, smooth. Leaves few 
shorter than the culms, very narrow, strict, spreading sheaths, striated ; ligule very short. Panicle 
erect, ^ inch long, spikelets 3— 5 ? shortly branched. Spikelets g inch long, flat, 3 
Empty glumes 3-nerved. Flowering glume 5-nerved, finely scabridous and tufted, with long flocculent 
silky hair at the base. Palea bifid, 2-nerved. Anthers long. Scale oblique, acute. Giain stout, 
oblong. Distribution op Var. F, minima : NEW ZEALAND. 
This peculiar, creeping, rooted little grass might almost be considered as a good species. It was 
discovered among the roots of larger grasses, collected by Mr. A. Mackay, on Mount Arthur, at an 
altitude of 42,00 feet, some of which were also varieties of Poa anceps , and attaining an unusual 
size in this locality. The diminutive size of the present variety cannot therefore be ascribed to rigour 
of climate at this altitude, but more probably to a well-marked inherent tendency in this species to vary 
under all circumstances. Distribution in New Zealand: SOUTH ISLAND: MOUNT 
ARTHUR (4200 feet)—A. Mackay. 
Reference to Plate XLVI. F.: Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4, 4. Nervation of 
empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8, 8'. Grain, 
front and side views. 
