m [ 986 ]
P O A diftans.
ReJIexed Meadow-grafs.
TRIANDRIA Digynia.
G en. C h ar. Cal. of 2 valves, containing many
florets. Spikelet rounded at the bafe. Cor. of 2
ovate, pointed, beardlefs valves.
S pec. C har. Panicle branched, lax ; its branches at
length reflexed. Spikelets o f five obtufe, polifhed,
flightly five-ribbed florets.
Syn. Poa diflans. Linn. Mant. 32. Sin. FI. Brit. 97.
With. 141. t. 25. Hull. 21. Abbot. 19.
P. retroflexa. Curt. Bond. fafc. 6. t. 10.
Aira aquatica (2. Hudf. 34.
T h e fir ft B r it ifh w r ite r w h o w e ll k n ew th is gra fs w a s u n -
q u e f t io n a b ly th e a u th o r o f th e Flora Anglica, th o u g h h e erred
w ith L in n a eu s in m a k in g it a v a r ie ty o f th e v e ry d ifferent Aira
aquatica. M r . C u r t is , b y m ean s o f a go od figure and d e -
fc r ip t io n , h a s n ow clea red it from a ll o b lc u r ity . I t is p e ren n
ia l , f low e r in g in J u ly and A u g u f t , and m a y b e foun d in m o i l
fa n d y w a f te p la c e s tow a rds th e c o a ft (n o t a b fo lu te ly o n th e
b e a ch ) and e v en b y th e road up H am p fte a d h ill.
T h e ro o t is fib ro u s , n o t c re ep in g a s in P . maritima, th e o n ly
E n g l i fh g ra fs w h ic h c a n b e con fo u n d ed w ith th is . S tem s
m a n y , d e c um b en t a t th e b a fe , th en fp read in g or e r e f t , a b o u t
a fo o t h ig h , ro u n d , le a fy , ftr ia ted , fm o o th . T h e w h o le
h e rb a g e is ra the r g la u co u s . L e a v e s fm o o th , a cu te , ftra ig h t ,
w ith lo n g {heaths c row n ed b y a b lu n t n o tch ed ftip u la . P a n ic le
ere£t, rem a rk a b le fo r th e ft r ik in g m an n e r in w h ic h its b ran ch e s
fo on b e c om e r ig id ly b e n t d ow nw a rd , w h ic h is in fom e d eg re e
th e ca fe o c c a fio n a lly w ith P . maritima; in th a t h ow e v e r the
flo re ts a re la rg e r , lo n g e r , and m o re a cu te th an in th e p la n t w e
are d e fc r ib in g .