350 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



caulis, Carex sempervirens, Cephalogonium longipilum, B. et S. 

 and several rock Lichens. 



My next destination, on quitting Laruns, was Cauteret, 

 in the Hautes Pyrenees ; but I found it necessary to descend 

 the Vallee d^Ossau to Pau, where I intended leaving ray 

 collections, and I had occupation for three or four days in 

 drying and putting them away. On the 8th of July, I left 

 Pau by the Cauteret diligence, intending to proceed as far 

 as Argelez, where I had appointed to meet a botanical friend 

 and countryman (Dr. S.) whose acquaintance I had formed at 

 Pau, and in whose company I afterwards made most of my 

 long excursions. Great part of the following day was devoted 

 to an exploration of the environs of Pierrefitte, a village 

 situated on the south side of the valley or plain of Argelez, 

 at the junction of the Gaves de Pau and de Marcadaou, 

 which descend respectively the gorges de Luz and de 

 Cauteret. Here we gathered Hypericum Richeri, the end- 

 lessly varying Scrophularia Scopolii, Sedum spfiaricum, 

 Lapeyr. ; S. hirsutum and atratum, Aira Valesiaca, a Melica 

 which is either a most remarkable variety of M. ciliata or 

 an undescribed species,* besides some interesting-looking 

 Brya and other Cryptogamia. 



Richard Spruce. 



{To be continued.) 



* I add the following description from my notes.— Plant larger and 

 stouter than M . ciliata. Culm and sheaths more strongly striate ; the 

 former leafy throughout, the uppermost leaf always reaching above the base 

 of the panicle and sometimes attaining its summit (while in M. ciliata the 

 culm is leafless in its upper third). Leaves much longer and plane (not 

 involute). Panicle spiciform, compound (in M. ciliata simple). Spicula 

 lanceolate, narrower than in M. ciliata, usually enclosing two fertile 

 flowers. Upper calyx-valve half as long again as the lower (while in 

 M. ciliata the two are nearly equal), both pale on the back and less 

 strongly nerved than in M. ciliata, which has the valves purple towards 

 the base, especially on the nerves. Lower palea of the lower fertile flower 

 densely ciliato-villose on a line parallel to and near the margin from the 



