48 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



lemma sparsely scabro-hirtellous all over, the lower 12 to 15 mm. long, firm, green, 

 strongly keeled nearly to the base, bifid at apex, and bearing a scabrous awn 3 to 4 

 mm. long; callus prominent, smooth; palea lanceolate, sparsely hirtellous, bifid at 

 apex, equaling or a little exceeding the lemma, the inflexed sides half as broad as 

 the internerve; stamens yellow, linear, 5 nun. long; ovary smooth. 



Collected at Alvarez, about 2,700 meters altitude, State of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, 

 by Dr. Edward Palmer, July, 1904. 



This remarkable species is larger and coarser than any other native North Ameri- 

 can or Mexican species. 



The following notes have been contributed by the discoverer, Dr. Edward Palmer: 



"This grass is called 'zacate j^erba,' and causes concern to owners of domestic 

 animals. It grows in low, rich lands in large bunches 3 to 4 feet high, and has a 

 yellowish cast. Domestic animals once injured by eating this grass, and having 

 recovered, are said to avoid it afterwards. Three jackasses were poisoned by it at 

 the time of my visit to Alvarez. They quickly became dizzy and helpless. Doses 

 of oil and beans were promptly administered, which relieved two, but the third 

 died. The animal which died had been on the place for a long time. ' It is com- 

 monly supposed that only animals new to the country eat this grass. It is probable 

 that if the beans had been pounded fine before administering, a more rapid action 

 would have resulted. There was so much good grass this year that it was not neces- 

 sity that drove the animals to eat this rough, rasp-leaved plant. It is a question 

 whether death resulted from some poisonous quality or from mechanical injury to 

 the stomach caused by the rough leaves." 



MEXICAN SPECIES EXCLUDED. 



Festucaf ascicularis Tusim. TBb\. ^ncyc. 1: 189. = Leptochloafascicularis Gray. 

 Festuca fournieriana Hemsl. Biol. Cent. Am. 3: 581. = Gouinia polygama Fourn. 

 Festuca mexicana R. & S. Syst. 2: 732. = Brachypodium mexicanum Link. 

 Festuca obtusifl or a W Hid; Spreng. Syst. 1: 356. = Leptochloa dubia'^ees. 

 Festuca pendulina Stend. ^yst. 1: 356. = Bi^omus pendulinus Sesse. 

 Festuca pilosaW Hid; Spreng. Syst. 1: 356. = Megastachya panamensis Presl. 

 Festuca scabra Lag. Gen. et Sp. 4. = Bracliypodium mexicanum Link. 

 Festuca virgata Lam. 111. 1 : 189. = Leptochloa virgala Beauv. 



r-/' 



[^^^"t.iA^J 





Tkjz^^ 



^ j^^a:U^^^-^7^^^^ .^1^^. 



