Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/411

Falklands, etc.] sequilongas productis, nervo intermedio in aristam terminalem tenuissimam aristis glumarum breviorem producto; palea superior brevior, apice bidentata.

The four-aristate lower palea of this species distinguishes it at once from any of its congeners. Mr. Darwin's, and one gathered in Chiloe by Capt. King, are the only specimens I have seen.

6. ARUNDO, L.

1. Arundo pilosa, D'Urville, in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 600. KuntJi, Agrost. p. 247. Ampelodesmos australis, Brongniart, in Duperrey Toy. Bot. p. 31. t. 6.

Hab. Falkland Islands, abundant; D'Urville, Mr. Wright. Capt. Sulivan, J.B.H.

A fine species and first pointed out to me by my friend Governor Moodie, as forming, next to the Tussock, the most useful grass in the Falkland Islands, for fodder. It abounds both in wet and dry places, in the upland and low grounds, affording excellent pasturage, and even when cut and dried it is eaten with avidity by horses, sheep, and cattle. A very similar congener inhabits the lofty peak of Tolima, in New Grenada, north of the Equator.

7. HIEROCHLOE, Gmel.

1. Hieuochloe Magellanica, Hook. 61. Torresia Magellanica, Pal. Beauv. Agrost. p. 63. Poem, et Schultes, Syst. Teg. vol. ii. p. 516. H. Antarctica, var. redolens, Brongn. in Biiperrey, Toy. Bot. p. 144. t. 23. optime. Avena redolens, B'Urv. in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 601.

Hab. Strait of Magalhaens and throughout Fuegia and the Falkland Islands, very abundant, Banks and, Solander, and all succeeding voyagers.

Under H. redolem, in the first part of this work, I have pointed out the very slight distinctions that separate this plant both from it and from the Tasmauian Ii. Antarctica, Br.: I consider them scarcely valid, though constant in specimens from the three widely separated localities they inhabit. In the Falkland Islands this grass is particularly abundant, forming large tufts and often beds, especially near running water and on wet rocks close to the sea, and is much frequented by sea-birds, as a building place. The scent is very strong, and retained in the dried specimens. Living plants introduced, by means of Ward's cases, into the Kew Gardens, have flourished luxuriantly, hitherto without flowering.

8. AIRA, L.

1. kmKfexuosa, Linn., Sp. PI. p. 96. Engl. Bot. t. 1519. Gaud, in Ann. Sc. Nat. vol. v. p. 100. et in Freyc. Toy. Bot. p. 100. B'Urv. in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 600.

Hab. Strait of Magalhaens ; Port Famine and Port Gregory, Capt. King ; Falkland Islands, Gaudichaud, and all succeeding voyagers.

An exceedingly abundant Falkland Island grass, and a great ornament to the black peat bogs, which are frequently clothed with its elegant purple panicles. The foliage is too scanty and of too rigid a texture to afford good pasturage.

I do not detect any difference between Falkland Island aud European specimens. Mr. Watson remarks that this is, perhaps, the A. uliginosa, Weihe ; a plant I do not know, but quoted by Kunth as synonymous with A.flexuosa.

2. Aira caryopfiyllea, Linn., Sp. PL 97. Engl. Bot. t. 812.