92 HIEROCHLOE BOREALIS. 



This is the Grass used for strewing before the Prussian 

 churches. In Sweden it is hung over beds in the belief that 

 it induces sleep. In Iceland it is used to scent the clothes 

 and apartments of the inhabitants, and in that island it is a 

 common species. The scent emitted is very similar to that of 

 our Sweet-Scented Vernal Grass, ( Anthoxanihum odoratum.) 



The stem stout, upright, circular, and smooth, carrying three 

 or four wide, brief, lanceolate, roughish leaves, with smooth 

 sheaths, the upper one somewhat swollen, considerably longer 

 than its leaf, and having a bold broad ligule at its apex. 

 Joints hid by the sheaths, near the base of the stem, and smooth. 

 Inflorescence compound-panicled. Panicle upright, exc'ept near 

 the apex. Branches smooth, spreading, proceeding from the 

 rachis in pairs; colour purplish. Spikelets of good size, glossy, 

 green and purple, consisting of three awnless florets hid by 

 the calyx. Calyx of two almost equal-sized, smooth, acute, 

 broad glumes, destitute of lateral ribs. Florets of two palese; 

 the exterior one of lowest floret five-ribbed; edges fringed; 

 keel rough and slightly hairy; interior one shorter, with entire 

 apex. Pilaments in perfect floret two, in barren floret three. 

 Anthers conspiquous, pendulous, and notched at either extremity. 

 Ovarium ovate. Styles two. Stigmas feathery. Length from 

 twelve to eighteen inches. Root creeping and perennial. 



Flowers at the commencement of May, and ripens its seed in 

 June. 



The specimen for illustration was gathered near Thurso by 

 Mr. E. Dick, and forwarded to me by Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, 

 of Manchester. 



