POA GLOMERATA.
( v a r i e t y o f p . a l p i s t a . )
A s in g u la r variety o f Poa alpina was pointed out to us, growing plentifully at Corby crags, near
Forfar, by that persevering and able botanist, Mr. G. Don, which w e think is deserving of notice.
Poa glomerata attains the height o f sixteen inches, and is generally found of an altitude superior to
what is ever obtained by the alpine Poa: its foliage is longer, and more flaccid; the straw has seldom
more than one joint, which is knee-bent: panicle short, and clustered, with a number o f spiculae,
each containing about three florets: the internal construction o f the florets seems to agree perfectly
with those of P. alpina, excepting that the base of the corolla is furnished with rather a larger portion
o f that connecting woolly matter which generally invests the valves o f the genus Poa. We sometimes
find two short leaves like bracteae at the base of the panicle, but they are rather an occasional than a
general appendage. Clustered as the spiculae o f this plant are, yet they never appear to become viviparous,
a circumstance so commonly observable in the alpine species.------ The station which this P.
glomerata inhabits, far from being high and mountainous, is low, and near the rocky banks o f a river.
The appearance that this plant presents to the eye is probably effected by situation, which-so strongly
influences the external characters o f vegetables, that we cannot wonder at the singular diversities which
are hourly exhibited to us.