144 Rhodora U VLY 



nell Land, collected by Lieut. A. W. Greely in 1883, which we con- 

 sider to represent Robert Brown's species as it agrees more closely 

 with his description than any other specimens we have seen. This 

 plant represents a most distinct species, and is quite different from 

 the form from the Rocky Mountains referred to Deschampsia curti- 

 folia. Greely's plant is figured and described by Scribner, Bot. Gaz. 

 11 : 2^. pi. 3. fig. A. 1886. Deschampsia brevifolia R. Br., was based 

 on specimens from Melville Island, and Greely's plant from Grinnell 

 Land not only agrees better with Brown's description than do the 

 specimens from the Rocky Mountains but also in geographical dis- 

 tribution. Our interpretation of the species may be erroneous, but 

 this can only be decided by examination of the type of the species 

 in the Herbarium of the British Museum; but whether it is like the 

 plant from Grinnell Land or like the Rocky Mountain specimens, 

 Deschampsia arctica should be the accepted name for the species. 

 Deschampsia curtifolia Scribn. U. S. Dept. Agric. Div. Agros. 



Cir. 30: 7. 1 90 1. {Deschampsia brachyphylla Nash in Rydb. 



Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 1 : 37. 1900, excl. syn., non Philippi, 



Anal. Univ. Chile, 94 : 23. 1896; Deschampsia caespitosa set/folia 



Griseb. in Ledeb. Fl. Ross. 4 ; 42 1 . 1853, non Deschampsia sctifolia 



Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. 914. 1837 ; Aira media Trin. Mem. Acad. 



St. Petersb. VI. Sci. Math. Phys. et Nat. I: 57. 1831. p. p.; 



Deschampsia caespitosa arctica Vasey, Descr. Cat. 53. 1885 ; 



Deschampsia caespitosa a/pina Vasey in Beal Grasses N. A. 2 : 368. 



1896; Deschampsia caespitosa brevifolia Vasey in Beal, 1. c. 369, 



non Aira brevifolia Bieb. 181 9.) 



A densely caespitose form 4 dm. high or less, with numerous 

 narrow basal leaves, very short culm leaves and exserted contracted 

 or spreading panicles 3 to 7 cm. long. Spikelets as in Deschampsia 

 caespitosa. 



This species extends from Alaska, south to the high mountains of 

 Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, and should perhaps more consis- 

 tently be considered only as a variety of Deschampsia caespitosa, as in 

 ascending the mountains one can find all intergrading forms, the 

 plants gradually becoming smaller as one ascends, the typical form 

 of Deschampsia curtifolia being found at the higher altitudes. This 

 plant may be the true Deschampsia arctica (Spreng.)'. {Deschampsia 

 brevifolia R. Br.). 

 Eragrostis campestris Trin. Gram. Suppl. 72. 1836. 



Poa nitida Ell. Sk. Bot. S. C. and Ga. 1 : 162. 181 7, non Lam. 



1791. 



Eragrostis nitida Chapm. Fl. So. U. S. 564. i860. 



If this form is to be considered a distinct species, it should be 

 known as Eragrostis campestris Trin., which was based on Poa nitida 

 Ell., a name invalidated by Poa nitida Lam. 

 Poa arachnifera glabrata Vasey Descr. Cat. 81. 1885, nomen ; 



Dewey, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 2: 546. 1894. 



