267 



elevation of between 600 and 800 feet above the sea. When growing in our elevated 

 open pastures the plants are generally single, also on our limestone cliffs ; but when in 

 our natural woods, which are mostly hazle, it is found in large tufts, where you may 

 get perhaps fifty specimens in the space of a few inches. I believe I could send from 

 the same tuft specimens of ulpina with the panicle quite as simple as any pratensis. 

 I consider Saxifraga umbrosa as really wild here. It is met with in Heseltine Gill, 

 which is a deep ravine at the foot of Pen-y-ghent, and Fountains Fell. There are 

 only two houses in about three miles, and these not near the place. Actcea spicata, 

 Rihes petrcBum, &c., grow along with it. The valley runs from west to east, and the 

 Saxifraga is found only on the south side, which receives no sunshine except in sum- 

 mer. Some of the plants are inaccessible, the cliffs are so steep." 



The impression of the meeting was that no specific distinction existed between the 

 plant now shown as Avena alpina and A. pratensis, and the same remark may be ap- 

 plied to all other specimens of the former hitherto exhibited from British stations. 



.3. On three new Species of Grasses of the Genus Poa : by Richard Parnell, M.D., 

 F.R.S.E. The author stated that these grasses were so unlike, in general appearance, 

 to any of the other Pace, and possessed such strong marks of specific distinction, that 

 he considered them entitled to rank as distinct species. 1. Poa sectipalea, Parnell. — 

 This plant differs from Poa pratensis, the only species it can well be confounded with, 

 in the branches of the panicle being stouter, more erect and rigid ; the spikelets larger. 

 Outer palea seven or nine ribbed, seven of the ribs being very distinctly marked ; in- 

 ner palea one-third shorter than the outer, and invariably divided to the very base : 

 whereas in Poa prateresis the inner [Pouter] palea has never more nor less than five 

 ribs, and the inner very little shorter than the outer, and always entire. Found grow- 

 ing in sandy situations between Cramond and Queensferry. 2. Poa polynoda, Parnell. 

 This species differs from Poa compressa, in the florets not being ribbed at the base ; 

 outer palea five-ribbed. Joints eight or ten in number, the uppermost joint situated 

 but a short distance from the panicle ; whereas in Poa compressa the florets are very 

 distinctly ribbed, suspending the carix [?] by their silky fibres. Outer palea three-rib- 

 bed. Joints seldom exceeding four in number. 3. Poa nemoralis, montana of Koch. 

 Inflorescence simple, panicled, occasionally racemed. Panicle erect, narrow and slen- 

 der ; the branches erect, long and slender, bearing few spikelets. Spikelets lanceolate- 

 ovate, of two or three awnless florets. Calyx of two unequal, acute glumes, three-rib- 

 bed. Florets not in the slightest degree webbed. Outer palea five-ribbed, the dorsal 

 and marginal ribs slightly haiiy. The whole plant is of a glaucous hue. This grass 

 was first obtained by Dr. Greville, who, in the year 1833, gathered several specimens 

 on Ben Lawers; since then it has been found in many parts of the Highlands, but has 

 hitherto been considered as a glaucous variety of P. nemoralis. 



These grasses are figured in Dr. Parnell's work on the Scottish grasses, now in the 

 press, in which he has given 130 figures, with minute descriptions. 



Dr. Graham exhibited some beautiful exotics from the greenhouses, chiefly natives 

 of Asia — and also a specimen of the interesting Megaclinum falcatuyn in flower, which 

 had been raised by Mr. Gray, of Greenock. A handsome plant of Armerla fasciculata 

 from the south of Eiuope, which had been raised in the Horticultural Garden, was 

 likewise exhibited. — The Edinburgh Evening Post and Scottish Standard, Saturday, 

 June 18, 1842. 



