57 



and triandrous ; the uppermost or central one perfect, dian- 

 drous. Glumes two, nearly equal, membranaceous, as long 

 as the flowers. Palese two ; upper one of the barren flowers 

 two-veined, that of the fertile flower one-veined ; lower ones 

 cartilaginous, permanent. 



A genus of confined but uncertain limits, the species of which 

 are distributed over the colder regions of both hemispheres. They 

 were originally regarded as appertaining to Holcus, resembling the 

 grasses of that genus in general aspect and imperfectly developed 

 spikelets, while they dififer in the number of flowers associated in 

 the latter being three instead of two. 



The name was bestowed by Gmelin on Hierochloe borealis, which, 

 being sweet-scented, is, in some parts of Prussia, strewed about 

 the entrances and pavements of the churches on festival days. 

 The English title is a translation from the Greek hieros, holy, and 

 chloe, grass. 



Hierochloe bobbalis. Northern Holy Grass. Plate XLVIII. 



Panicle erect, spreading, with smooth branches. Flowers awn- 

 less. Outer palea ciliated on the margins. Leaves flat. Creeping 

 at the root. 



Hierochloe horealis, Roemer et Schulte^. E. B. Supp. 264il. E.B. 

 ed. 3. 113*. Generally adopted by modern botanists. Pea 

 53, Linncmis, Fl. Lapp. Holcus odoratus, Linnceus, Fl. Suec. 

 H. borealis, Schrader. H. repens. Host. 



First recognized as a native of Britain in 1813, by the late Mr. 

 G. Don, who discovered it growing in a narrow mountain valley, 

 Glen Kella, in Forfarshire. It has since been met with in two or 

 three other places in Scotland, but may still be regarded as one of 

 our botanical rarities. Creeping rather widely at the ropt, it sends 

 up straight, smooth stems about a foot in height. Leaves rough 

 on the margins. Panicle reddish brown, glossy, Spikelets ovate. 

 Flowers scarcely extending beyond the glumes. Central fertile 

 flower smaller than the external barren ones. 



Perennial. Flowers in July. 



The odour of the plant nearly resembles thai, oi Anthoxanthum 

 odoratum, but is more powerful, especially when it is dried. Sir 

 W. J. Hooker mentions that in Iceland, where it grows very plen- 

 tifully, the people employ it for scenting their apartments and 

 clothes. In Prussia this grass was dedicated to the Virgm Mary, 

 hence Loesel named it Gramen Marise Borussorum. 



