154 H. G. SIMMONS. [sec. arct. exp. fram 



Festuca ovina, L. 



F. ovina, Li.n.naels, Sp. plant., 1753; Hackel, Mon. Fest.; Ostexfeld, F1. Arct.; 

 Laxge, Consp. Fl. Groenl.; Kruise, List E. Greenl.; Nathorst, N. W. Gronl.; 

 Hooker, Fl. Bor. Amer. ; Feilden, Fl. pi. Nov. Zeml.; F. ovina var. violacea, 

 Macou.x, Pi. Pribilof; Kjei.i.max, in Vegaexp.; Ledebour, Fl. Ross.; Axdehsson 

 & Hesselmax, Spetsb. kiirlv. ; non F. violacea, Gaudix, Agrostol. Helv. 

 Fig. Fl. Dan., T. 2162. 



This species is widely distributed and is rattier variable; many spe- 

 cies and varieties have been established within its form-series, some 

 also on arctic specimens. They are, however, very difficult to define, 

 as they are in all probability principally due to local conditions. 



The most common form in EUesmereland is: 



Var. brevifolia,, (R. Br.) Hart. 



F. brevifolia, R. Bkowx, Chlor. Melv., 1823; Nathorst, N. W. Gronl.; Hooker, Fl. 

 Bor. Amer.; F. ovina *brevifolia, Hackel, Mon. Fest.; Dusex, Gefasspfl. 

 Ostgronl.; Axdersson & Hesselmax, Spetsb. karlv.; F. ovina var. brevifolia. 

 Hart, Bot. Br. Pol. Exp.; F. ovina *borealis, T,axge, Consp. Fl. Groenl.; non 

 F. borealis, Mertexs 6c Koch, Deutschl. FL; nee Fleischer &: LixdemaxiX, Fl. 

 Ostseeprov. ; nee Hooker, Fl. Bor. Amer. 



Fig. Fl. Dan., T. 2706. 



The description which Rob. Brown gives of this form runs as 

 follows: — ''Festuca brevifolia, racemo subsimplici, erecto, flosculis 

 teretibus supra scabriusculis, arista duplo longioribus, foliis setaceis 

 vaginisque laevibus; culmeo multoties breviore vagina sua laxiuscula". 

 To this may further be added, that the spikelets are rather large, gener- 

 ally tinged with violet or purple. It is, however, not right to describe 

 the sheaths as closed entirely, or almost in their whole length, as Hac- 

 kel does (1. c, p. 84 and 117), as I have found in examining the 

 original specimens from Melville Island in the Nat. Hist. Mus. 



To this I think the var. violacea of the authors quoted above may 

 be referred. The true F. violacea, Gaud., is distinguished by an open 

 panicle, short awns etc. (Gaudin, Agrostol. Helv., p. 231), and is by 

 Hackel referred to the form-series of F. rubra. From var. alpina, 

 (Suter), found in the Alps and other european mountains, the var. 

 brevifolia, is principally distinguished by its coarse growth, larger and 

 coarser spikelets, and by the very short lamina of the uppermost culm- 

 leaf. However forms are found that come rather near to it (1106, 1150). 

 In richer soil the leaves of the culm as well as of the shoots become 

 longer and broader (1862, 2587, 3999). Rather commonly spread in 

 slopes and grassy fields, rarer in open gravel or clay fields. In flower 

 about the end of June. 



