116 BRITISH GRASSES. 



bouquets. Its flowers appear early in May; and its 

 panicles form a charming contrast with the solid gran- 

 deur of the Tulip and Narcissus tribe. Its fragrance is 

 an additional recommendation to it as a cultivated plant ; 

 it partakes the odour of the Sweet Vernal-grass, with a 

 delicate hint of the scent of the Bitter Almond in addition . 



Though a rare grass in Britain, it is common in 

 mountain pastures and rocky places in northern cli- 

 mates, being frequent in Lapland, Norway, Sweden, 

 Kamtchatka, Russia, North America, Northern Ger- 

 many and the mountains of South-eastern Germany, 

 parts of Asia, and New Zealand. In some of these 

 countries it is much valued by the Catholic population, 

 as being dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and on this 

 account it is called by Loesel, Gramen Maria, Mary's 

 Grass. Its generic name is derived from two Greek 

 words bearing reference to the same usage, and meaning 

 sacred and grass. Gmelin gave the name, having been 

 accustomed to see it strewn before church doors, and in 

 the churches on festival days. In Sweden it is sold in 

 bundles to be placed over or near the beds, from an idea 

 that it induces sleep, because of its sacred influence. 



There is a handsome species of Hierochloe, indigenous 

 in Tierra del Fuego, of larger growth, awned, and with 

 flowering glumes large and of rich brown colour, while 

 the outer glumes are nearly white, and the florets 

 bearded at the base. It has the same pleasant odour as 

 our northern species, and is therefore called redolens. 



Genus V. A3STTHOXANTHUM. 



Gen. Char. Outer glumes two, unequal, one-flowered, 

 the next two glumes empty and narrower, awned, the awns 



