III [ 1520 ]
POA fluitans.
Floating Meadow-grass.
T R IA N D R IA Digynia.
G en. Char. Cal. of 2 valves, containing many florets.
Spikelel rounded at the base. Cor. of 2 ovate,
pointed, beardless valves.
Spec. Char. Panicle branched, spreading. Spikelets
close-pressed ; cylindrical, many-flowered. Florets
obtuse, with seven ribs and intermediate ones at the
base.
Syn. Poa fluitans. Scop. Cam. v. 1. 73. Salisb. Prod. 21.
Sm. FI. Brit. 96. Relh. 32.
Festuca fluitans. Linn. Sp. PI. 1 1 1 . Huds. 46.
With. 156. Hull. 24. Sibth. 4 5 . Abbot. 21.
Curt. Lond.fasc. 1. t. 7. Mart. Rust. t. 113.
Gramen aquaticum cum longissima panicula. Raii
Syn. 412.
F R E Q U E N T in s ta g n an t w a te r s , o r a b o u t th e m a r g in s o f
s low s tre am s , f lo w e r in g th ro u g h o u t th e sum m e r .
R o o t lo n g and c r e e p in g , th row in g o u t m a n y fib re s a t th e
jo in t s , its u p p e r p a r t flo a t in g in th e w a te r . S tem s s o lita r y
fr om e a ch jo in t , a s c e n d in g , ro u n d , s tr ia ted , le a fy , sm o o th ,
h o l lo w and ten d e r . L e a v e s fla t , b ro a d , o b tu s e , sm o o th ; th e
lo w e r on e s f lo a t in g ; a ll w i th lo n g , com p re s s ed , sm o o th
sh e a th s . Stipulae s h o r t , p o in te d , o ften to rn . P a n ic le n e a r ly
u p r ig h t , sm o o th , p a le , w i th a lte rn a te , m o re o r le s s sp r e a d in g ,
b r a n ch e s , S p ik e le t s a lte rn a te , n e a r ly s e s s ile , c lo s e -p r e s s e d
to th e b r a n c h e s , lin e a r , c y lin d r ic a l, w i th from 8 to 12 flo re ts .
C a ly x u n e q u a l, m em b ran o u s , o b tu s e , w ith a g r e e n k e e l , and
n o r ib s n o r fu r r ow s . F lo r e ts lo o s e ly sp ik e d , s om ew h a t c y l in -
d r ic a l, o b tu s e , ro u g h ish u n d e r a h ig h m a g n ifie r , 7 - r ib b e d ,
w i th sh o r t in te rm ed ia te r ib s a t th e b o t tom , th e ir sum m it m em b
ra n o u s , w h i t e , an d m o s t ly t o o t h e d : in n e r v a lv e s n o tc h e d .
A n th e r s e sh o r t and ro u n d .
T h e seeds are said to b e c o lle c te d fo r fo o d in H o l la n d , and
c a lled Manna Seeds.— S e e C u r t is .