122 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
1. Aira caryophyllea L. Sp. Pl. 1:66. 1753. 
Type Locauity: “Habitat in Angliae, Germaniae, Galliae, glareosis.”’ 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Coupeville, Gardner 346; Clallam County, Elmer 1933; Seattle, 
Piper 823; Lake Park, Piper, July 27, 1895; Montesano, Heller 3889; Pierce and Thurston 
counties, Henderson 2142. 
2. Aira praecox L. Sp. Pl. 1: 65. 1753. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe. 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Olympic Mountains, H/mer 1932; Point Orchard, Piper 2310, 832; 
Whidby Island, Gardner 345; Stuart Island, Lawrence 59. 
MERATHREPTA. 
[Meraturerta Raf. in Seringe, Bull. Bot. 1: 221. 1830.] 
The type of Danthonia DC. is Festuca decumbens L. (Triodia decumbens R. Br.), and the 
name can not therefore be used in the current sense. Merathrepta has for its type M. spicata 
(L.) Raf. (Avena spicata L.). 
Spikelets ascending, in a close panicle. 
Callus very short, not hairy.................-.-.-2-2-.-.------ 1. M. pinetorum. 
Callus elongate, densely hairy. ...............-.2.-2-.-----0--- 2. M. intermedia. 
Spikelets spreading in a loose panicle or solitary. 
Sheaths smooth. ..........2-.-22-2.-2----------------------.--- 3. M. californica 
Sheaths hairy. 
Lemma abruptly narrowed; spikelets usually 2 to 4.......... 4, M. americana. 
Lemma not abruptly narrowed; spikelets usually solitary... .. 5. M. wnispicata. 
1. Merathrepta pinetorum. 
Danthonia spicata pinetorum Piper, Erythea 7: 103. 1899. 
Danthonia thermale Scribner, U.S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. Cire. 80: 5. 1901. 
Type Locauity: “In gravelly soil, Mason County, Wash., 3 miles south of Union City.” 
Collected by Piper. 
Rance: British Columbia, Washington, and Idaho. 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Mason County, near Union City, Piper 943; between mouth of 
Spokane River and Colville, Wilkes Expedition. 
ZONAL DISTRIBUTION: Transition. 
2. Merathrepta intermedia (Vasey). 
Danthonia intermedia Vasey, Bull. Torr. Club 10: 52. 1883. 
Type Locauity: “California, Rocky Mountains, Plains of Br. America to Mount Albert, 
Lower Canada.” 
RanGE: Canada to Washington, Colorado, and California. 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Loomis, Elmer 553; Stevens Pass, Sandberg & Leiberg, August, 
1893; Mount Rainier, Piper 1950; Cascade Mountains, Vasey 442. 
ZONAL DISTRIBUTION: Arctic. 
2a. Merathrepta intermedia cusickii (Williams). 
Danthonia intermedia cusickii Williams, U. 8. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. Circ. 30: 7. 1901. 
Tyre Loca.ity: “Oregon.” 
Rance: Washington to Montana and Oregon. 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Olympic Mountains, Piper 1987. 
ZONAL DISTRIBUTION: Arctic. 
3. Merathrepta californica (Boland.). 
Danthonia californica Boland. Proc. Cal. Acad. 2: 182. 1858-62. 
Type Locauity: ‘On the borders of cultivated fields near the bay at Oakland; hills near 
Mission Dolores, San Francisco.”’ 
