2G6 



one of tlicm, is a South American grass of wliicTi T have seen authentic specimens 

 in the Kow Herbarium and elsewhere, and ia very difterent from the Caliloruian 

 plant, which I liave named F. viridula. SiiO description on pa-^t; 279. 



Festuca scabrella Torr. 15ot. Cal. ii. 318 (1?:<80). Dr. Thurber lias hero included at 

 least two species. Neither of tliem appears to be the true scabrella as described 

 and figur(;d in Hooker's Flora Boreali-Americana, which is rather sparinj^fly 

 represented in our herbarium by specimens from British America, Montana, 

 Colorado, and the mountains of the Gaepe, Lower Canada. Wbat is probably 

 a large variety of this species occurs in eastern Oregon and Washington, variety 

 major. (See page 278.) Another species described under this name is a stout, tall 

 grass of California and Oregon, which I have called F. calij'ornica. See descrip- 

 tion on page 277. 



Festuca pauciflora Thunh. Fl. Jap. 52 (1784). The grass which Dr. Thuxber 

 described under this name ia not that plant, as I ascertained by examination of 

 the true F. paucijtora in the herbarium at Kew. The Califoriiian plant described 

 includes Festuca ocddenialis Hook., and perhaps one or two other species. 



It is difficult at the present time to decide as to the Hookerian species. The 



•■ original description says: "Leaves principally radical, onc-fourtli the length 

 of the culms, 3 or 4 on the culm, distant, but the culm is almost wholly concealed 

 by their remarkably long, sheathing bases. Panicle 5-6 inches long; branches 

 slender, again divided, more or less long, and more or less patent. Spikeleta 

 small in proporticm to the size of the panicle, green, glossy, smooth. Awna 

 about e(iual in length to the perianth [Uoral glume]. Glumes short and obtuse, 

 especially the upper or inner one, which is about twice as long as the outer one, 

 yet not half so long as the floral valves. Inner valves [palet] of thii floret as long 

 as the outer, acute, llut at the bacik, but the margins closely indexed." The 

 description also says: "Leaves, very narrowly liuear-lLliform; " also: "Glnmea 

 email, very unequal, obtuse and ciliate at the apex.'' Dr. Thurber. in Bot. 

 Cal. ii. 318, has considerably modifled the description, comments on the "ob- 

 tuse" glumes, and refers to specimens communicated to the Torrey herbarium by 

 Sir William Hooker, in which the glumes " would hardly he called obtuse. " I 

 have examined the specimens referred to, as also others in the Kew herbarium, 

 and think they are some of the forms of Festuca ovina or riihra. One of the species 

 which was probably included in Dr. Thurher's description of F. pauciflora 

 Thunh. is what I have elsewhere described as Festuca jonesH. Another, which 

 may also have been included under that name, is Festuca amhigua, described on 

 page 277. 



Zilymus sibiricuB L. Sp. PI. i. 83 (1753). The species described by Dr. Thurber 

 under this name is not the Linmean plant, and is horeaftoi desciibed aa E. 

 glaucua variety tenuis. (See page 280.) 



