39 
Russia, and Siberia, characterized by prominently scabrous- or hispid- 
nerved, empty glumes. The lemma is scabrous or scabrous-hispid on the 
nerves above and generally, though less conspicuously so, also between the 
nerves. The anthers are 2-2*2 mm. long. According to oral information 
from Dr. Samuelsson, it is not at all densely tufted, but grows in large 
patches reaching several square meters in size. A. violaceum fi virescens, 
on the other hand, has smooth, empty glumes, with the nerves smooth or 
nearly so, and a glabrous lemma. The anthers are 1*4-1 -6 mm. long. 
It does not form extended patches, but grows in distinct tufts. It belongs 
to the polymorphous group represented by the so-called A. tenerum Vas. 
and A. Richardsoni Schrad, but, as no type exists, it is impossible to say 
what particular form it is. The plant from Lange’s herbarium, referred 
to above, cannot be considered the type, as it is just one of several col- 
lections made in Tasermiut-fjord. It belongs to A. trachycaulum (Link) 
sensu ainpl. 
AGROPYRON TRACHYCAULUM (Lillk) 
The North American forms listed by Pease and Moore under the names 
of A. caninum (L.) Beauv., A. caninum f. pubescens (Scribn. & Sm.) Pease 
& Moore, A. caninum f. glaucum Pease & Moore, A. caninum var. 
tenerum (Vasey) Pease & Moore, A. caninum var. tenerum f. ciliatum 
(Scribn. & Sm.) Pease & Moore, A. caninum var. tenerum f. Fenialdii Pease & 
Moore, A. caninum var. unilaterale (Cassidy) Yasey, A. caninum var. 
unilaterale f. ciliatum (Scribn. & Sm.) Pease & Moore, and others des- 
cribed in the following, constitute a natural group. 
As has been stated in the preceding, a large number of forms varying 
from awnless so-called tenerum to long-awned so-called Richardsoni ( cani- 
num var. unilaterale of Pease and Moore) have been grown experimentally. 
Without exception, all these forms were fertile, thus substantiating the 
belief that the two extremes mentioned belong to the same Linneon. 
Recently, however, Peto (14, page 433) has asserted that artificial 
crosses between tenerum and Richardsoni made by W. Robinson at the 
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, proved to be sterile, a fact 
indicating that the two parent forms should be considered belonging to 
different Linneons. Through the kindness of Professor J. R. Fryer, 
University of Alberta, the information ha, been gleaned, however, that the 
sterility is only partial as “some of the spikes from one of the plants (Mr. 
Robinson secured only two plants of the cross) are apparently fertile.” 
Professor Fryer has also kindly supplied some spikes of the Robinson 
crosses. Several of these contained anthers which were located at the 
very bottom of the florets and apparently never opened. The anthers 
were filled with what at first glance appeared to be hybrid pollen. A closer 
examination, however, revealed that, although the pollen apparently was 
impotent, yet it was not like typical hybrid grass pollen. Most of the 
grains were angular. The protoplasm was translucent and yet granular, 
and harboured in most cases one nucleus, but in some two. These grains 
bore a most striking resemblance to those of certain stiains of Maize 
figured by Eystei* (la, page 118) and are, like them, strictly speaking 
no pollen grains at all, but microspores stayed in their development before 
reaching the pollen stage. Such “pollen” is not viable and the result is 
male sterility. Such sterility, according to Eyster, is common in pedigreed 
