Order GRAMINEFE. 
Genus Hierochloe. 
Sub-Order Phalaride/e. 
Genus IV.—HIEROCHLOE, Gmelin. 
Spihelets panicled, large, broad, pedicelled, laterally compressed, shining, 3-flowered, two lower 
staminiferous, upper fertile. Empty glumes sub-equal, keeled, obtuse, or acute. Flowering glumes 
similar, awnless, or with a terminal or dorsal short awn. Palea 1 or 2-nerved. Scales 2. Stamens 2—3. 
Grain terete, free. Distribution of Genus: COLD CLIMATES OF BOTH HEMISPHERES. 
Etymology : Named from two Greek words meaning “ sacred grass.” 
Arrangement of the Species :— 
I.— Outer glumes as long as the flowering. 
Culms 2—4 feet. Leaves long .., ... ... ... 1. H.redolens. 
Culms 1—2 feet. Leaves short ... ... ... ... 2. H. alpina. 
II.— Outer glumes much longer than the flowering ... ... ... 3. H. brunonis. 
1.—HIEROCHLOE REDOLENS. 
SWEET-SCENTED SACRED GRASS. 
(Plate V /.) 
Hierochloe Antarctica, Brown. 
Disarrhena antarcticum, Labill. FI. Nov. Holl., II., 83, t. 232. 
Torresia redolens, A. Cunn. 
Hierochloe redolens, Brown. Hook, fil., FI. N.Z., I., 300; Handb. N.Z. Pflora, I., 321. 
A beautiful sweet-scented grass, ascending to 3000 feet altitude. Flowers December—February. 
Perennial. ' Root-fibres few, wiry. Stems 2—4 feet high. Peaces flat, smooth, or slightly scabrid; 
ligule broad, membranous. Panicle effuse, 6—12 inches long, nodding, shining brown, branches 
capillary, slightly hairy, lower 2—3 inches long; ligule long or short, obtuse, serrate. Spihelets 
numerous, i-inch long and broad, pale, shining. Empty glumes ovate, acute, 3-nerved; two lower 
flowering glumes (staminiferous) obtuse, bearded below, downy above, margins with long cilia, 5-nerved, 
shortly awned below the top. Palea (staminiferous) bifid, 2-nerved. Upper flowering glume (fertile) 
obtuse, 5-nerved, very shortly awned. Palea (fertile) obtuse, 2-nerved, seldom i-nerved. Scales 
oblong-lanceolate, of the lower florets bifid, and of the upper floret acute ; the two scales are sometimes 
united as one by the margins at bottom, and appearing as a 2-lobed scale. Sta?nens 2—3. Anthers 
