AMERICAN GRASSES DESCRIBED BY LINNAEUS. 121 



Poa capillaris L. Sp. PL 68. 1753. 



The type specimen, from "K," is Eragrostis capillaris (L.) Nees. The Gronovius 

 specimen incorrectly cited by Linnaeus (Clayton no. 580) is Eragrostis pectinacea 

 (Michx.) Steud. 



Poa ciliaris L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 875. 1759. 



The type specimen, from "Br," is Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) Link. Linnaeus^ cites 

 Sloane's plate of Sporobolus indicus under this.& 



Briza eragrostis L. Sp. PL 70. 1753. 



The type specimen, from "K," is Eragrostis megastachya (Koel.) Link. The 

 Gronovius reference (Clayton no. 582) is the same. Both are the more compact- 

 panicled form. Linnaeus's specimen of Poa eragrostis L. Sp. PL 68. 1753, from Europe 

 is the form with more open panicles, but has the same large spikelets. The European 

 botanists (e. g. Ascherson and Graebner, Syn. Mitteleurop. F1.2: 372.1900.) consider 

 Poa eragrostis L. to be the allied species (Eragrostis minor Host) with smaller, gland- 

 less spikelets, and quite open panicle. Though the Linnaean specimen is Eragrostis 

 megastachya, yet the name Poa eragrostis may perhaps be considered as applicable to a 

 traditional species rather than to the specimen in his herbarium. This is a question 

 which European botanists will doubtless be prepared to decide. It seems to me, 

 however, that the description applies better to his specimen ("spiculis serratis decem- 

 floris") than to Eragrostis minor. 



Uniola paniculata L. Sp. PL 71. 1753. 



The type specimen is marked "Uniola 1," that is, the first Uniola described in the 

 Species Plantarum. It belongs to this species as generally understood. Linnaeus 

 cites Gronovius, " LTniola calycibus polyphyllis." In the first edition of Gronovius 

 this citation is based upon a reference to Hortus Cliffortianus and not upon a Clayton 

 plant. In the second edition a Clayton plant, no. 909, is mentioned, but this number 

 could not be found in the British Museum. There is no doubt, however, as to the 

 identity of the plant; it is the same as that of Linnaeus. Gronovius refers to a figure 

 of Plukenet and gives the common name "sea-side oat." 



Uniola spicata L. Sp. PL 71. 1753. 



The type specimen, from " K," is Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene. After his diagnosis 

 Linnaeus cites Clayton no. 507, but this is Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth. Linnaeus 

 had already cited this number of Clayton under Agrostis virginica. 



Dactylis cynosuroides L. Sp. PL 71. 1753. 



The Linnaean specimen, which is the type, is from Gronovius and is marked with 

 the number 577 and accompanied by Gronovius' s diagnosis. Gronovius's plant cited 

 by Linnaeus (Clayton no. 577) is the same, namely, Spartina polystachya (Michx.) Ell. 

 and should be called S. cynosuroides (L.) Willd.c 



Linnaeus subjoins a variety ft based on a Gronovian citation. The corresponding 

 plant, Clayton no. 583, is Spartina glabra Muhl. 



A second sheet pinned to the Linnaean plant mentioned above (no. 577) is marked 

 by Linnaeus "1," that is the first species of Spartina. There is also a label attached 

 which says " Phalaroides spicis linearibus subternis terminalibus secundis adpressis. " 

 This citation is from Loefling. d The plant appears to be Spartina stricta of Europe, 

 and is probably the basis of the European habitat. (Linnaeus gives as habitat, "Vir- 

 ginia, Canada, Lusitania. ") There is no evidence of his having seen a plant from 

 Canada. Linnaeus's diagnosis "spicis sparsis secundis scabris numerosis" applies to 

 the first Gronovian plant cited rather than to either of the others. 



a Sp. PL ed. 2. 102. 1762. c Of. Bot. Gaz. 35: 216. 1903. 



bPl.73.f.l. d Iter. 115. 1758. 



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