P R E FA O E 



The grasses of Alaska are of great interest, not only from the 

 standpoint of technical botanical science, but because they form one 

 of the great natural resources of that region, as yet little utilized. 

 Although many lists of grasses from Alaskan localities have been 

 published, no comprehensive and critical work on the whole subject 

 exists. The present paper, prepared by Professor F. Lamson- 

 Scribner and Mr. Elmer D. Merrill, brings our knowledge up to date 

 and will serve as a working basis for the study of Alaskan grasses 

 until that vast region has been more fully explored and its vegeta- 

 tion more thoroughly investigated. 



Frederick V. Coville, 

 Curator of the United States National Herbarium. 



in 



