210 ON A MONGOLIAN CJRASa PRODDCINO INTOXICATION. 



Juxta Gijmnadeniam tridentatam, Lindl., a quo calcari brevi tin 

 labello trifido ac habitu gracillimo lonj^e recedit. — Habitat Kiukiang, 

 Korean Archipelago, Hb. Kew et Eclib. f. 



Dr. Reichenbach kindly forwarded the foregoing description in 

 reply to Professor Oliver, who had sent him a specimen for determi- 

 nation. 



48. Tricyrtis elegans, Wall. 



49. T. macropoda, Miq. Kiukiang. These are both new from this 

 region. 



50. Carex transversa, Boott. Kiukiang. Previously only re- 

 ported from Japan. 



51. C. monad el pha, Boott. Ta-hoo Lake. 



52. C, sp, Ta-hoo Lake. Avery distinct species, which I have 

 not been able to determine from the specimens at Kew. It has 

 solitary separate male and female spikelets and very hairy fruits and 

 bracts. 



53. Phyllostachjs nigra, Muuro. Ta-hoo Lake. These specimens 

 are in flower, and General Munro identifies thera as belonging to the 

 plant named, of which he had previously seen no flowers. 



54. Bromus japonicus, Thbg. Kiukiang. I do not find that thi» 

 diflPers from the Japanese specimens. 



ON A MONGOLIAN GRASS PRODUCING INTOXICATION 



IN CATTLE. 

 By H. F. Hanck, Ph.D., etc. 



Doubts have been cast of late years on the accuracy of the belief 

 formerly generally lield, that certain Grasses possess nai'cotic or inebri- 

 ating properties. The old and widely-spread ill repute of our Lolium 

 temulentum, Linn , for such qualities is well known. But, in the last 

 edition of his "Vegetable Kingdom," the late Prof. Lindley wrote, 

 *' The noxious properties of Darnel seem to rest upon no certain proof. 

 That formidable list of mischief belonging to its seeds, of which Haller 

 says so much, resembles what might be expected of some ergotised 

 Grass. At all events, the properties of Darnel should be made the 

 subject of renewed inquiry."* However, in one of the latest and best 

 general works on systematic botany, the authors speak of its fruit at 

 causing, when mixed with cereal grains, " des vomissements, des ver- 

 tiges et rivresse."! And, quite recently, Dr. John Shaw, in a most 

 interesting paper on the disturbing influence of extensive sheep-farm- 

 ing on the vegetation of South Africa, speaks of certain parts of the 

 country there having to be passed over by tran-^port riders with their 

 oxen without pausing. " on account of the McUccc (the ' Dronk ' Grass 

 of the Dutch colonists), which have increased to an extent scarcely to 

 be fancied in the last few years, and on eating which cattle become 

 afflicted with intoxication to an alarming extent. "J There is no 

 allusion to this property in Nees' " Gramineae Africa? Australioris." 



• Lindley, Veg, Kingd., 116 b. 



t Le Maout et Decaisne, Traite gen. de hot., 613. 



J Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. liv., 208. 



