132 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



the necessary experiments. The entire matter relating to these species 

 ■was published in the proceedings of the California Acadcm}-, Yol. Ill, 

 p, 205. I subjoin their names: 



Plevraj)his famsii (?) — Lowland grama. 



AristUla purpurea — Highland grama. 



Muhlenbergia pimgens — Black grama; grama China. 



Sporaholus airoides (Trin.) 



In Dr. F. Mueller's (Director of the botanical gardens at Melbourne) 

 annual report I find the following passage relating to a grass of this 

 ■western coast: "Amongst the latter, the so-called Californian prairie 

 grass, hromus unioloides of Humboldt, has far surpassed in its yields all 

 other kinds hitherto experimented on in this garden ; and as a perennial 

 species, of bi'oad blade ar d of nutritive properties, prolific even in dry 

 ground, and capable of enduring the influence of our occasionally 

 scorching summer heat, this grass is entitled to a general introduction 

 on our pastures." 



ENUMERATION OF CALIFORNIA GRASSES. 



ORYZE^. 



Leersia oryzoides (Sn.) — Rice cut grass. 



Banks of Cache Creek, Lake County; October. Eastern States and 

 Europe. Valueless for agricultural purposes. It is undoubtedly intro- 

 duced. 



PHALARIDE^. 



Phalaris Canariensis (Lin.) — Can.ary grass. 



Occurs sparingly near settlements. Yields the canary seed. Intro- 

 duced ; April ; annual. 



Phalaris intermedia (Bosc.) 



Wet meadows — Oakland, Santa Eosa, and Russian River Yalley. 

 Farmers call it " California Timothy." This grass is exceedingly varia- 

 ble as to size, from six inches to five and eight feet. Yalueless. Appears 

 to be an introduced gx-ass. April; annual. 



Phalaris amethyst Ina (Trin.) (?) 



Gulches and ravines, Oakland hills. Angel Island, Clear Lake; also in 

 the southern counties. It forms immense tufts, and attains a height of 

 four to eight feet. Yalueless; April; perennial. 



Hierochloa macrophylla (Thurb.) — Large leafed vanilla grass. 



Redwoods of the Coast Range, especially in Marin County. Blossoms 

 quite early in Mai'ch and April; forms lai'ge tufts in loose soil, and has a 

 very agreeable scent, which it retains after being cured, to a considera- 

 ble degree. My horse ate it ; but I am in doubt as to whether this could 

 be considered as a general fact. Taking all into consideration, it must 

 be set down as valueless for agricultural purposes. Perennial. 



