Festuca.] GRAMINEiE. 



251 



unciam longus, simples vel rarissime subcompositus. Spicule 6-8, approximate, ovat^, breviter pedicellate 

 dense pilosas. Glum<B oblon-o-ovatifi. cymbiformes, obtusae, in^quales. flosculis breviores, tri-quadriflor^' 

 compress^. FloscuH compressi ; perianthii valvula exterior late ovata, complicato-carinata, fusco-purpurea' 

 margine hyahna, apice in aristam perbrevem sensira acuminata: interior bicarinata, ad carinas hirsuta. 



Hab. Arctic Sea-coast. Dr Bichardson.— This appears to be a very distinct species from any with which 

 I am acquainted. 



^ Tab. CCXXX.^Ficf, 1. Spikelet;/. 2, Calycine glume;/ 3. Perianth;/. 4. Anterior view of the 

 inner, and/ 5. posterior view of the inner valve of the perianth •.^magnified. 



+ 



8. F. {^chceno Aorns) pratemis, Huds — E. Bot. t. 1592. Torr. FL 1. p. 121. Grau, 

 Gram, et Cyp. Part XL n. 125. 



Hab. Dry plains of the Columbia, and towards the mountains. Douglas. ' 



9. F. {Schceuoiom^) borealis {MerL) ; panicula laxa erectiuscula ramis, primariis sub- , fy^tAj^Ai 

 verticillatis, spiculis oblongls sub-4-floris, glumis subaequalibus longitudine fere spicule, 4t 

 flosculis teretibus basi flisciculato-pilosis, perianthii valvula exteriore 7-nervi apice brevi- ^ 



aristata lacerata interiore apice bidentata, foliis lato-linearibus planis asperis. (Tab. 

 CCXXXI.)— ilfer/. et Koch, Fl. Germ. I. p. 664,. Ktlu Enunu p. 404. 



Hab. Carlton House Fort, on the Saskatchawan.— This fine grass is considered by Dr Torrey to be the 

 same with the F, borealis of Mert. and Koch ; and it must be confessed that it agrees pretty well with their 

 description ; but I have no authentic specimen of that plant by which to certify the opinion, and there are 

 some slight discrepancies. The culm in our specimens is as thick as a swan's quill, 3-4 or more feet high, 

 leaves 8-10 inches long, broadly linear-acuminate, rough to the touch. Panicle a foot and more long, almost 

 quite erect, as well as the subverticillate slender branches. Spikelet erect, J to ^ths of an inch long, scat- 

 tered or subfascicled, sessile or pedicellate, generally 4-flowered. Glumes unequal, convex, rounded" at the 

 back, not keeled, the outer one shorter than the florets, acute, entire at the point, the middle nerve reaching 

 beyond the point, so as to form a short arista, there are besides, on each side, two short lateral nerves ; the 

 inner glume as long as the whole spikelet of florets, torn at the point, aristate, the middle nerve reaching 

 beyond the point ; there are besides, 2 lateral nerves reaching to the apex, and 2 intermediate shorter ones. 

 Florets cylindrical, closely placed, with a tuft of white hairs at the base of each; outer valve of the perianth 

 jagged at the point, shortly aristate, with 7 nerves reaching to the summit: the inner lanceolate, the margin 

 inflected, with 2 strong, green, ciliated, nerves at the flexures, running out so as to form a bifid apex; upper 

 floret smaller than the rest. 



Tab. CCXXXl.— Fig, 1. Spikelet ;/ 2. Inner glume;/ 3. Outer do. ;/. 4. Perianth -.—magnified. 



10. F. (Schoenodorus) nervosa; panicula erecto-patens laxa, spiculis oblongis com- 

 pressis remote 7-8-floris glumis inaeciualibus leevibus, superiore longitudine fere flosculi, 

 flosculis scabris lineari-oblongis acute carinatis conduplicato-compressis acutis nervosis, 

 nervis 5 elevatis, foliis planis linearibus (Tab. CCXXXIL) 



Hab. Nutka Sound. Dr Scouler.— Root creeping. Culms casspitose, 1^-2 feet high, slender, wiry. 

 Leaves flaccid, linear. Panicle 3-4 to 6 inches long, lower branches long and capillary. SpikeleU oblono-, 

 the flowers remote, and the rachis peculiarly zigzag. These florets are remarkable for being very much com- 



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