56 
ANNALS OF THB 
first published by Beauvois. A comparison with the specific character in Michaux's 
Flora, with the Analysis in Beauvois' Agrostographia, and with a description in the 
Supplement to Kunth's Agrostographia Synoptica, (the only original sources, except 
Desvaux Journal, which I have not seen,) proves the correctness of Dr. Pickering's 
suggestion. 
The great size of the panicle in the Michigan specimen, and an erroneous pre- 
conception in respect to Graphephorum, had wholly diverted my attention from this 
obscure genus. It is now clear, however, that Beauvois' figure very well represents 
the Canadian grass, except that it wrongly restricts the villous beard of the rachis 
to the ultimate and sterile joint, and represents the inferior palea as tricuspidate 
through an exaggeration of a slight or casual erosion of the tip of each side of the 
submucronate termination of the mid-nerve, but these inaccuracies are both correct- 
ed in Kunth's supplementary description, drawn from original materials. 
The grain is perfectly free and deciduous, as it doubtless will prove to be in 
Dupontia Fischeri. 
Thus a long lost species of the North American Flora is rediscovered, and a 
genus which rested for almost half a century in obscurity and doubt, takes its ap- 
propriate position, — in my view, including not only its original species, but also 
Dupontia, R. Br., Arctophila, Rupr., and even Scolochloa, Link ; for the firmer tex- 
ture of the palese in the latter, the stronger nerves, and the vague teeth or eroded 
sinuses at the tip of the lower palea, are characters of small moment. 
The name Graphephorum, is very appropriate, referring as it does to the peni- 
cillate tuft surrounding the base of each flower, which is a distinguishing character 
of the genus, if it be left (as I think it should be) among the Fcstucineae, between 
Colpodium and Glyceria, while it also indicates an affinity with the Aveneae, which 
was recognized by Mr. Brown when he established the genus Dupontia. 
The several groups, or supposed genera here brought together, form so many 
sections of Graphephorum, which may be disposed as follows: — 
Genus: GRAPHEPHORUM. 
Graphephorum, "Desv.," Beauv. Agrost., p. 76, t. 15, f. 8, (1812); Desv. Jour. Bot., ann. 1813, p. 71, ex auct; Konth, 
Eaumer. (Agrost.), 1 p. 25J, et Supple., p. 193, t. 14, f. 9 (pist. et squamulae). G. nulicoidet, Deav.— 
Aira melicoides, Michx. 
Dupontia, R. Br. App. Voy. Parry, p. 190 (1824). D. Fischeri, R. Br. 
Scolochloa, Link. Hort. Berol. Descr., 1, p. 136 (1S27). S. festueacea, Link. Arundj fettueaeta, Willd. Fatuca bortalit, Mert. 
et Koch. F. arundinacea, Lilijeb. 
Dupontia et Arctophila (sub Poa,) Rupr., Fl. Samoj., p. 62-64, t. C, (1816). Spp. plur. 
Fluminia, Fries, Summ. Veg. Scand., 1, p. 247 (1845, 1846). F. arundinacea. Fries, seu Festuca borealit. Men. ei Koch. 
Scolochloa (Link), Dupontia (R. Br.) et Colpodium § Arctophila (C./uloum et pendulinum), Oriseb. in Ledeb. Fl. Boss., 4, pp. 
886, 386, 393, (1SS3). 
