early and long. It makes beautiful patches everywhere, and is
deservedly receiving more attention.
P . compressa, L. Is the Blue Grass, or Blue Spear Grass,
named from its compressed and much-flattened stem, and bluish-
green color ; much less common, does not form turf, though it
grows in clusters, and might, perhaps, when cultivated, be valuable,
but seems to delight in the borders of woods and moist situations
along banks. Seems to be loved by cattle.
P. nervata. W. Meadow Spear Grass. The Foul ,Meadow
of many farmers, 3 or 4 feet high, erect, with a recurved panicle
in its older state, waving beautifully in tbe wind, and having a fine
appearance. It is a much coarser grass than the preceding, and
is not so well relished by cattle, though it is readily eaten as hay
in winter. Some other coarse grasses go to make up all that is
called Foul Meadoio.
P. eragrostis. L. Branching Spear Grass. A large and
beautiful grass, with a diffuse panicle of flowers and fruit ; color
bright-green ; not common ; sandy soil.
P. Canadensis. Torrey. Another large and beautiful grass,
about orchards and fields ; not abundant.
P. nemoralis. L. Inhabits wet open woods ; a large, tall,
rank grass, with a long, finely arched panicle of fruit; too coarse
for food, except when young ; Berkshire County ; June.
P. maritima. Huds. A beautiful grass about salt marshes.
Big. A foot high ; branches in pairs.
P. capillaris. L. A beautiful, slender grass in its panicle,
which is large, loose, and spreading.
P. dentata. Torrey. Has a loose panicle ; wand-like branches
; spikelets 5-flowered ; lower palea 5-nerved and 5-toothed at
the apex ; swamps ; June.
P. palustris. Muhl. Has a diffuse panicle ; florets a little
webbed at the tip ; 2 - 3 feet high, e re c t; in wet meadows ; June.
The other species, aquatica, T ., elongata, T ., hirsuta, Mx.,
obtusa, Muhl., pectinacea, Mx., replans, Mx., like several of the
preceding, have little utility.
T ricuspis. P. de Beauv. I
Spikelets roundish, swollen, many-flowered, 5 — 7 ; lower palea
bifid-toothed ; seed 2-horned.
T. seslerioides. Torrey. Formerly considered a Poa, a large
and.splendid grass, often 5 feet high, with a large spreading panicle,
purplish, in wet meadows ; falsely called Red-top, and far inferior
for utility in New England. It is said to yield two crops a
season in the mountain meadows of Pennsylvania, and to be an
excellent grass. It must be cut early to be eatable by cattle, and
then may become a valuable grass. Leaves are large, and long,
and smooth. This is the Poa quinquefida of Pursh, and seems
to be very close to that genus.
P aspalum. L. 3. 2. Paspalon Grass.
The two species, ciliatifolium, Mx., and setaceum, Mx., do not
appear extensively diffused ; it is the Greek name for millet.
Loudon.
Muhlenbergia. Schreb; 3. 2.
Named in honor of Muhlenberg, to whom the Botany of this
country is greatly indebted, a pupil of Linnaeus, and distinguished
as a scientific man, an ardent lover of nature, with a character
every way estimable.
Two species, diffusa, Schreb., and erecta, Schreb., are found in
this State ; small slender grasses, of little value, early losing their
seed, and called Drop-seed Grass ; not abundant, good food for
cattle.
As the name of the great Linnaeus was given to a small and
neglected plant, so that of Muhlenberg is honored by one of the
poor grasses.