poa annua. (Linnaeus.) 
ANNUAL MEADOW-GRASS. (Hudson.) 
SUFFOLK GRASS. (Stillingfleet and Withering.) 
COMMON DWARF POA. (Curtis.) 
aotbdnVLTcnnW^^tf th ‘ S and Br ° mC Gra f s from thIs colleftion, on account of their 
i tl r/ J ‘ ,? n f(much has . been wr 'tten on the annual meadow-grafs by Stillingfleet Curtis 
and others; and the (oft Brome aDDears n fo urwt m.-mMi-w r 6 . J } ’ ^ UKI1S ' 
the omiffion had been deemed unpardonable. q 7 ^ °" r mo ^S’^ands, that it is apprehended 
..T h,S , ( { ralS 15 ’' C ? fhly dlf ] in S u ' aie J * r °m the two other fpecies of this genus which are afterwards introduced by 
its humble growth, as well as by the tender, delicate contexture of its leaves and ftalk. It is of annual durat’ioi? 
The flowering ftalks make their appearance in a very fliort time after the feeds beuin to vegetate: and the fmie 
plant will continue to fend up frelli flowering ftalks, a confiderable time. Indeed, the different plants flower 
from Mai ch to December; and (ometimes, when the weather is mild, all the winter long. A P confiderable 
quantity of ripe feed has been collected by the Writer of this fo early as the month of April! It is a common 
weed in mo gardens, courts, &c.-is the firft Grafs which occupies foot-paths after they have been a little while 
diluied; and luch places as have been much trodden by the Feet of Cattle; as round hay-ricks and near gate-ways. 
Mr. Curtis oblerves, that there is “ no Grafs better entitled to Ray’s epithet lulgatijfimum (very common) 
than this, as it occurs alraoft every where, in meadows, gardens, at the fldes of pathst and on walls : when it 
“ grows m a very dry lituation, it frequently does not exceed three inches. But in rich meadows it often grows 
*' ™ ore . l/l a 1 • 0t \ . ei g dt * The panicle is frequently green, but in open fields, it acquires a reddilli tinge.” 
Notwithftanding this remark, that it is fo very common , yet in meadows and pafture grounds that have been lon^ 
laid down to grais, it is Icarcely to be met with; unlels in the particular parts of them mentioned above, a* 
pathways, &c. I his we may readily conceive from its being an annual, and a plant of a delicate frame and 
dwarf ltature. 
.The flowers of this Grafs in the fpring are oderiferous, fmelling not much unlike the flowers of the plant called 
mignionette or Iweet relcda, and letain this fmell a confiderable time after being dried. This therefore militates 
againft the oblervation which has been made that the vernal is the only oderiferous Grafs. The feeds fall off upon 
the lealT touch as loon as ripe. Hence it will be impofiible to colled them without great wafte after cutting the 
grafs with a lcythe. Befides, one half of the ftalks will have ftied their feed, before it is half ripe in many of the 
panicles, and even before fome of them are in blolfom. 
The beft method the Author has experienced in a fmall way, is, with an uncovered Chip Box (fuch as the Toy- 
makers furnifb) containing about a pint or a quart, in each hand, holding the right-hand Box with the thumb on 
the edge on one fide, and the fingers at the bottom of the Box, to fweep with the other edge along the furface of 
the Grafs pretty rapidly, railing the edge which ftrikes the Grafs upwards as the ftroke advances; the Box will be 
found to have collected a quantity of pure feed, which is immediately to be difeharged into the receiver in the left 
hand. By this method the unripe panicles are left to perfedt their feeds; which, in a few days muft be thus fwepc 
over again, and will produce a fecond colledion. This procels with the intermiflion of a few days between each 
colledion, may be purfued from April to Odober, or November, in which time a large quantity of feed muft 
undoubtedly be colleded. 
The tips * (antheras) of the flowers of this Grafs are of a pale grdenifti-white colour. For further obfervations 
on this Grafs, fee Curtis’s Flora Londinenfis and Stillingfleet’s Trads. 
ANTHOXANTHUM ODORATUM. (Lin.) 
VERNAL or SPRING GRASS. (Hudson.) 
SPRING GRASS. (Withering.) 
SWEET-SCENTED or VERNAL GRASS. (Curtis.) 
VERNAL GRASS. (Ligiitfoot and Anderson.) 
The flowering heads of the grades are termed by Botanifts either Spikes or Panicles. A Spike is, when all the 
flowers, or little affemblages of flowers arile from one common Ample ftem. In Panicles , they are difperfed on 
different ftems or branches. But no definition will give fo good an idea as examples. The Vernal, Foxtail 
Darnel, Dogjlail, Meadow-Barley, and Catftail, of this aflbrtment are Spikes , all the reft are Panicles, When the 
Grades are in flower thefe Spikes and Panicles are befet with little forked Tips ***i Anthers, (Anther®) which are 
covered with a powder of a different colour on different fpecies of Grafs, and fometimes differently coloured on 
the fame fpecies. 
The Tips or Anthers are lupported by flender thread-like props or filaments, and are the male organs of the 
plant. Thefe coloured Anthers contain the prolific fubftance which impregnates the female organs. The female 
organs in the GralTes are two little feathery ffyles, ilfuing from a minute germ or feed-bud, and terminated each 
with a feathered fummit. 
The Vernal Grafs is diftinguiffied from all the reft of the Grades by having but two of the male organs, whereas 
all the reft have three. This is one very peculiar charadter whereby it may be certainly known. Befides this, it 
has a very remarkable fmell. Mr. Curtis fays, “ The Farmer, or thofe who have not been accuftomed to 
“ examine plants minutely, may readily diftinguilh this Grafs by its finell : if the leaves (or any part of the plant) 
“ are rubbed betwixt the fingers they impart a grateful odour, like that of Woodruff;—hence J have called it 
“ fweet Rented. 
Thefe marks, together with its early appearance, will not leave a pollibiUty of miftaking it. It grows chieflv 
in the moift parts of meadows and pastures. The largeft and moft luxuriant growth of this Grafs ever obferved 
by the Author, was on a Turbery or Peat Bog. It flowers the beginning of May. When this Grafs is in blolfom, 
it is very confpicuous, and occurs very readily, altho’ it is not one of the taller Grades. The reafon is, that the 
ftalks of the others have not then finifhed their growth; and fome of them fcarcely made their appearance. But 
when the feed is nearly ripe, it is in very different circumftances. It is then furrounded by a throng of taller 
Grades, and fcarcely to be feen. In this lituation the Spikes become more eredt than when they were in blolfom. 
Yet it is quite necelfary to be very oblervant of the proper time of colledting the leed; fince, notwithftanding the 
Spikes are necelfarily kept in an upright poiition, and the feeds confequently cannot Jail out of the hulks, yet, there 
is a provilion of nature for the purpofe of difleminating them. When the feeds are in a ftate fit for being 
committed to the earth, the larger arijla or awn, which adheres to the corolla or flower-cup, the part of frudh'fication 
which immediately indoles the feed, bends, and twifts itfelf in a Ipiral manner, and by this operation lifts the 
feeds out of their hulks. This circumftance makes it necelfary for thofe who wilh to colledt the feed, to do it 
juft at the time of its ripening. Indeed, the upper part of the hulks is often evacuated before the lower part is 
fcarcely ripe. 
* This is a term of Dr. Withe ring's, which will be explained in the next article. 
