( 245 X 
XIII. An Illustration of the Grass celled by Linnaus Cornucopia 
alopecuroides. By James Edzvard SmiWi, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. 
Head November 1, 1803. 
Oome time between the publication of the second edition of the 
Species Plantarum and that of the first Mantissa, Linnaeus received 
from Professor Arduino a single specimen of an Italian grass, of 
a most extraordinary appearance, which the learned botanist who 
sent it conceived might possibly form a new genus. The annexed 
figure (Tab. XII. fig. 1.) shows the exact appearance of this original 
specimen. Linnaeus remarked its great resemblance to Alopecurus 
pratensis, at the same time noticing the inflated sheath of its upper 
leaf, in which he found it agree with some species of Phalaris. Its 
most striking peculiarity however, a membranous cup embracing 
the lower part of the spike, so strongly accorded with the genus 
Cornucopia, that Linnaeus without scruple so determined it; being, 
doubtless, well pleased to add a reinforcement to that celebrated 
and uncommon genus, of which only one species had before been 
discovered. Nor did he in this determination lose sight of his 
usual accuracy. On a dissection of the flower he found the corolla 
of one valve only, as in Cornucopia, in which mark indeed that 
genus agrees with Alopecurus, being distinguished from it, as from 
all other grasses, only by the funnel-shaped involucrum which 
contains the flowers. This part being curiously and regularly 
notched in the original Cornucopia, and the flowers beardless, 
while, in the grass before us, the flowers are awned, and the in- 
volucrum nearly entire, furnished Linnaeus with sufficient spe^ 
cine distinctions ; while the general habit and structure, even the 
inflated 
