PIIALAHIDE.E. 187 



2. S. alpina (Sw.) Scribn. Mem. Torr. Club, 5:25 (1894). 

 Alpine Vaxilla or Holy Geass. IIolcus alpinus Sw. Willd. 

 Sp. PI. 4: 527 (180G). llierochlo'e (dpina 11. & S. Syst. 2:515 

 (1817). 



A smooth brown or purplish grass, 15-40 cm. high. Leaf- 

 blades short, narrow, iuvolute. Panicles contracted, 2.5-5 cm. 

 long, rays in pairs. Spikelets over 7 mm. long, oval, sjireading; 

 iloral glume of the first lateral floret with a short awn 2 mm. long, 

 below the bifid apex, awn of tlie second lateral floret longer and one- 

 third or more below the apex; both lateral floral glumes ciliate on 

 the margins, fulvous brown; floral glume of the terminal floret cili- 

 ate and mucronate, awned above; palea 1-nerved. 



Vermont, Faxon, Pr ingle ; Ehode Island, Cougdon for ClarJc 

 4369. 



"Alpine mountain-tops, New England and New York and 

 northward. (Eu.)" A. Gray. 



3. S. Mexicana (Bentli.) Hierocldoe Mexicana Benth. Journ. 

 Linn. Soc. 19:77 (1881). 



An erect tufted perennial, 60 cm. high. Leaves scabrous 

 throughout, ligule 7-8 mm. long; blades flat, 8-15 cm. long, 3-4 

 mm. wide. Panicle spikelike, interrupted, 10-15 cm. long, rays 

 in pairs, the longest 4-5 cm. long. Spikelets oval, brownish green, 

 7 mm. long, first glume oval when spread, 1-nerved, 5 mm. long, 

 second 3-nerved, 7 mm. long; lateral florets equal, 5 mm. long, 

 awn of floral glume of first fioret near the apex but slighly project- 

 ing, awn of floral glume of second floret stout, attached near the base, 

 projecting 3 mm. ; floral glume of terminal floret 3 mm. long, gla- 

 brous, lateral nerves very obscure. 



Mexico, Prinyle 4700. 



Dry ridges under pines, 9500 ft. altitude. 



4. S. macrophylla (Thurb.). Hiei'ochloe macropliylla Thurb. 

 Boland. Trans. Calif. Agrl. Soc. 65 (1864-5). Large-leaved 

 Holy Grass. 



Culms 40-60 cm. high. Leaf-blades 30-50 cm. long, 9-13 mm. 

 wide, with rough margins. Panicle thin, rays in j^airs, or the 

 lowest single. Empty glumes about 5 mm. long, greenish along 



