HIEROCHLOE. 



115 



stigmas long, linear, downy ; seed ovate, pointed, small, not 

 attached to the flowering glume. 



Hierochloe borealis, Eoem. and Sch. Northern 

 Holygrass. 



Boot perennial, creeping ; stem erect, round, smooth, 

 from twelve to eighteen inches high ; leaves short, flat, 

 broad, lanceolate, rough on the upper surface; sheaths 

 somewhat short ; panicle spreading, drooping in the upper 

 part ; branches smooth, slender, tinged with purple ; spike- 

 lets ovate, brown, glossy ; outer glumes nearly equal, broad, 

 acute, smooth ; lower flowering glumes as long as the outer 

 ones, five-ribbed, hairy, rough at the keel ; paleae two-nerved ; 

 flowering glume of fertile flowers shorter, glossy ; palea 

 very small, two-nerved like its fellows; stamens three in 

 the barren and two in the fertile florets, the filaments as 

 long as the flowering glumes, the anthers extending beyond 

 them ; ovary long, narrow, pointed ; scales long, narrow, 

 and pointed. 



This is a very rare grass, founding its claim to be con- 

 sidered a native of Britain 

 on its discovery by Mr. 

 Don in the valley of Kella, 

 Forfarshire, and more re- 

 cently in Caithness by Mr. 

 Dick. It is to be seen in 

 great luxuriance in the Bo- 

 tanic Gardens of Edinburgh; 

 and its light, spreading pa- 

 nicles, brown-tinted florets, 

 and fresh green foliage, re- 

 commend it highly as a 

 border plant, and a graceful 

 addition to drawing-room 



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