122 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



1. Aira caryophyllea L. Sp. PL 1:66. 1753. 



TiPE locality: "Habitat in Angliae, Germaniae, Galliae, glareosis." 



Specimens examined: Coupeville, Gardner 346; Clallam County, Elmer 1933; Seattle, 



Pifer 823; Lake Park, Piper, July 27, 1895; Montesano, Heller 3889; Pierce and Thurston 



counties, Henderson 2142. 



2. Aira praecox L. Sp. PI. 1: 65. 17.53. 

 Type locality: Europe. 



Specimens examined: Olympic Mountains, Elmer 1932; Point Orchard, Piper 2310, 832; 

 Whidby Island, Gardner 345; Stuart Island, Lawrence 59. 



MERATHREPTA. 



[Merathrepta Raf. in Seringe, Bull. Bot. 1: 221. 1830.] 



The type of Danthonia DC. is Festuca decumhens L. {Triodia. decurnbens R. Br.), and the 

 name can not therefore be used in the current sense. Merathrepta has for its type M. spicata 

 (L.) Raf. {Avena spicata L.). 

 Spikelets ascending, in a close panicle. 



Callus very short, not hairy 1. M. pinetorum. 



Callus elongate, densely hairy 2. M. intermedia. 



Spikelets spreading in a loose panicle or solitary. 



Sheaths smooth 3. M. californica 



Sheaths hairy. 



Lemma abruptly narrowed; spikelets usually 2 to 4 4. M. aniericana. 



Lemma not abruptly narrowed; spikelets usually solitary 5. M. unispicata. 



1. Merathrepta pinetorum. 



Danthonia spicata pinetorum Piper, Erythea 7: 103. 1899. 



Danthonia thermale Scribner, U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. Circ. 30: 5. UK)1. 



Type" locality: "In gravelly soil, Mason County, Wash., 3 miles south of Union C ity." 

 Collected by Piper. 



Range: British Columbia, Washington, and Idalio. 



Specimens examined: Mason County, near Union City, Piper 943; between mouth of 

 Spokane River and Colville, Willces Expedition. 



Zonal distribution: Transition. 



2. Merathrepta intermedia (Vasey). 



Danthonia intermedia Vasey, Bull. Torr. Club 10: 52. 1883. 



Type locality: "California, Rocky Mountains, Plains of Br. America to Mount All)ert, 

 Lower Canada." 



Range: Canada to Washington, Colorado., and California. 



Specimens examined: Loomis, Elmer 553; Stevens Pass, Sandberg d- Leiberg, August, 

 1893; Mount Rainier, Piper 1950; Cascade Mountains, Vasey 442. 



Zonal distribution: Arctic. 



2a. Merathrepta intermedia cusickii (Williams). 



Danthonia intermedia cusickii Williams, U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. Circ. 30: 7. ]iK)l. 



TiPE locality: "Oregon." 



Range: Washington to Montana and Oregon. 



Specimens examined: Olympic Mountains, Piper 1987. 



Zonal distribution: .\jctic. 



3. Merathrepta californica (Boland.). 



Danthonia californica Boland. Proc. Cal. Acad. 2: 182. 1858-62. 



Type locality: "On the borders of cultivated fields near the bay at Oakland: hills near 

 Mission Dolores, San Francisco." 



