( 24.-, ) 



XIJI. An Illustration of the Grass called hi/ T/tnnccus Corniieopice 

 alopccuroides. By James Edward Smith, M.J). F.R.S. P.L.S. 



Read Nove?nber 1, 1803. 



Oome time between the publication of the second edition of the 

 Species Plantaruin and that of the first Mantissa, Linnaeus received 

 from Professor Arduino a single specimen of an Italian grass, of 

 a most extraordinary appearance, which the learned botanist who 

 sent it conceived might possibly form a new genus. The annexed 

 figure (Tab. XII. fig. 1.) shows the exact appearance of this original 

 specimen. Linnams remarked its great resemblance to Alopecurus 

 pratensis, at the same time noticing the inflated sheath of its upper 

 leaf, in which he found it agree with some species of Phalaris. Its 

 most striking peculiarity however, a membranous cup embracing 

 the lower part of the spike, so strongly accorded with the genus 

 Corniieopice, that Linnaeus without scruple so determined it; being, 

 doubtless, well pleased to add a reinforcement to that celebrated 

 and uncommon genus, of which only one species had before been 

 discovered. Nor did lie in this determination lose sight of his 

 usual accuracy. On a dissection of the flower he found the corolla 

 of one valve only, as in Cornucopia, in which mark indeed that 

 genus agrees with Alopecurus, being distinguished from it, as from 

 all other grasses, only by the funnel-shaped involucrum which 

 contains the flowers. This part being curiously and regularly 

 notched in the original Cornucopia?, and the flowers beardless. 

 while, in the grass before us, the flowers are awned, and the in- 

 volucrum nearly entire, furnished Linnaeus with sufficient spe- 

 cific distinctions : while the general habit and structure, even the 



inflated 



