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HIEROCHLOE BOREALIS. 
Roemer AND Scuuttes. Parnett. Hooker aNnD GREVILLE. 
J. E. Smirg. Linpirny. Basineron. REICHENBACH. 
PLATE XXIX.—A. 
Holcus borealis, SCHRADER. 
“ odoratus, Linnezvus. SmitH. WILLDENOW. 
as OxEDER. SINCLAIR. WAHLENBERG. 
fierochloe odorata, Kocn. 
The Holy Grass. 
Hierochloe—Sacred Grass. Borealis—N orth. 
Hrerocutor. Gmelin—The “Holy Grass” has a wide-spread panicle, 
and derives its name from two Greek words, signifying Sacred Grass, because 
according to Gmelin, it is on the sacred festivals in some parts of Per- 
sia, scattered before the doors of churches, being dedicated to the Virgin 
Mary. Sir W. Hooker remarks that a similar*custom still prevails at 
Norwich, where the Acorus calamus, or “Sweet Sedge,” is the favoured 
plant. 
Great Britain only possesses one species, namely, Hierochloe borealis, 
which has been found in Scotland. It is an abundant Iceland plant. 
Tus very rare species, although one of our earliest, yet it 
is not a valuable Grass. 
It is confined to Scotland, having been found by the late 
Mr. G. Don, in a mountain valley called Kella, near the 
Spittle of Glen Shee, Forfarshire, and near Thurso, Caithness, 
in 1854, by Mr. Robert Dick. 
Abroad it is native of Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Iceland, Italy, 
France, Germany, Prussia, Kamtschatka, and Russian America. 
R 
