14 HIEROCHLOE ALPINA. 



in the belief that it induces sleep ; and in Iceland it it used to scent the clothes 

 and apartments of the inhabitants. According to Cuthbert W. Johnson, its 

 nutritive qualities are greater than in most of the early spring grasses ; but, from 

 the paucity of its foliage, it cannot be recommended in agriculture . From this 

 opinion it may be concluded that this species will be valuable in the sub-alpine 

 pastures of New Zealand as an early and nutritious food, and, from its small 

 growth, be well adapted for sheep. DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : NORTH 

 ISLAND : RUAHINE MOUNTAINS-Colenso. SOUTH ISLAND : NELSON 

 Monro, Travers ; HOPKINS RIVER, 20003500 feet altitude Haast ; 

 OTAGO LAKE DISTRICTS, 3000 feet altitude Hector and Buchanan. 



Reference to Plate VII. : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Florets with 

 empty glumes removed. 4, 4'. Nervation of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of 

 staminiferous flowering glumes. 6. Nervation of Palea (staminiferous). 7. Nerva- 

 tion of fertile flowering glume. 8. Nervation of Palea (fertile). 9. Scales 

 (staminiferous florets). 10. Scale (fertile floret). 11. Ovary. 



