48 CONTRim-TlONS FROM THE I^ATIONAL HERBAKLUM. 



lemma Hparaely scabro-hirtellons all over, the lower 12 to 15 iiim. long, firm, green, 

 strongly keeled nearly to the l>a8e, bifnl at apex, and bearing a seabrouy awn 3 to 4 

 mm. long; calluH prominent, smooth; i>alea lanceolate, sparsely hirtellous, bilid at 

 apex, equaling or a little exceeding the Icunna, tlie inflexod ^deH half as broad as 

 the interncrve; stamens yelloAv, linear, 5 mm. long; ovary smooth. 



Collected at Alvarez, about 2,700 n:ieters altitude, State of San LnisPotosi, Mexico, 



by Or. Edward Palmer, July, 1904, 



Thin remarkable species is larger and coarser than any other native North Ameri- 

 can or Mexican species. 



The following notes have been contributed by the discoverer, Dr. Edward Palmer: 

 *' This grass is called ^zacate yerba,' and causes concern to owners of domestic 

 animals, [t grows in low, rich lands in large bunches :-> to 4 feet high, and has a 

 yellowish cast. Domestic animals once injured by eating this grass, and having 

 recovered, are said to avoid it afterwards. Tiiree jackasses were poisoned by it at 

 the time of my visit to Alvarez. They quickly became dizzy and helpless. Doses 

 of oil and beans were promptly administered, which relieve<l two, but the third 

 die<l. The animal which died had been on the place f«K a longtime. It is coni^ 

 monly supposed that only animals ne\\' to the country eat this grass. It is probable 

 that if the beans had been pounded fine before administering, a more rapid action 

 would have resulted. There was so much good grass this year that it \>'as not neces- 

 sity that drove the animals to eat this rough, raspdeaved plant. It is a (luestion 

 whether death resulted from some poisonous (iuality or from mechanical injury to 

 the stomach caused by the rough leaves." 



MEXICAN STECIES EXCLUDED. 



FeaiucafascicularisL^m. Tabl. lOncyc. 1: 189. ^ Leptochloa fascicular i^ Gray, 

 Festuca frmmierliwa Ilemsl. PioL Cent. Am. 3: o8L = Gouinki pohjgama Fourn 

 FeMuca mexicana II. & S. Syst. 2: 732. = Brachypodiuni mexicanvm Link. 

 Fe^iaca ohtimforaV\\\\A) Spreng. Syst. 1: 356. ^ Leptochloa dubia 'Ssee^. 

 Festuca pendidhia Steud, Syst. 1: 356. ~ llromus pendulums Sesse. 

 FeducapUosa\Vil\i\; Spreng. Syst. 1: 350, = Megastachya jxmamenns Pn^nl. 

 Festuca scahra Lag. Gen, et Sp. 4. ~ Brachgpodiiim mexicanurn Link. 

 FeducavmJata\^'M^^,l\\, 1: 180. = Lqdochloa virgala BiMiux . 



