Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/412

376 Hab. Falkland Islands, Mr. Wright. J. D. H. ; probably introduced. There are specimens of this species in the Hookerian Herbarium, marked as collected in the Falkland Islands by Admiral D'Urville, and others sent from Valdivia by Mr. Bridges. The plant is unquestionably the common European "Silver Hair Grass", aud accidentally introduced, for, as Mr. Curtis remarks, "so insignificant an annual can hardly be worth cultivating."

3. Aiea Kinrjii, Hook, fil.; glaberrirna, elata, panicula elongata effusa, ramis gracilibus subverticillatis, glurnis lanceolatis acuminatis albidis nitidis vix puberulis flosculis pedicellatis ter longioribus, palea inferiore basi longe et dense sericeo-barbata apice truncata vix bifida irregulariter 4-dentata puberula obscure 3-nervi, nervo intermedio supra medium in aristam rectam palea paulo longiorem desinente superiore bifido, foliis lineari-elongatis culrno brevioribus vaginis profunde striatis duplo brevioribus. (Tab. CXXXV.)

Hab. Strait of Magalhaens ; Port Famine, Capt. King ; South part of Tierra del Fuego, C. Darwin. Esq.

Gramen elatum, 2-4-pedale, perenne, glaberrimum, nitens. Culmi caespitosi, erecti, simpbces, 2-3-nodosi, crassitie penna? anatina?, obscure striati, internodiis 4 unc. ad spithaniseum et ultra. Foliorum radicalium vagina 4-5 unc. longa, lamina brevior, caulinorum internodiis brevior, profunde striata, fere ad basin hians ; ligula oblonga, scariosa, alba ; lamina angusta, herbacea v. subcoriacea, bnearis, glaberrima, striata, marginibus siccitate involutis. Panicula 6-10 unc. longa, inclinata, effusa, ramis fasciculatis verticillatisve, gracillimis, divisis, infe- rioribus -| panicula? aequantibus, glaberrimis, superioribus pedicelbsque scaberulis. Spicules lineari-oblonga?, fere i unc. longa?, albida?, basi purpurascentes, scariosa?, nitida?. Glumts 1-nerves, angusta?, acuminata?. Flosculi parvi, sub-longe pedicellati, inclusi, glumis ter breviores, pedicello ciliato. Palea puberula?, albida?, micantes, scariosa?, suba?quilonga?. Stamina sub-inclusa, antheris breviusculis. Squamula obbque lanceolato-ovata?, acuminata?. Ovarium compressum, obovato-oblongum, styKs basi discretis. A very handsome grass, somewhat resembhiig the British A. caspitosa, but with very different locusta? and florets.

Plate CXXXV. Fig. 1, locusta? ; jig. 2, floret ; fig. 3, stamens and pistil ; fig. 4, squamula -. — all magnified.

4. Axra Magettanica, Hook, fil.; puberula, panicula effusa pauciflora raclii ramisque elongatis gracilibus pubescenti-scaberulis, glumis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis subsequalibus pubescentibus dorso scabridis flosculis stipitatis longioribus superiore basi 3-nervi, palea inferior late ovata basi sericeo-barbata puberula 5-nervi, nervo intermedio infra apicem irregulariter 4-dentatum in aristam strictam glumis inclusam desinente, foliis planis latiusculis super pubescentibus. (Tab. CXXXIV.)

Hab. Strait of MagaLhaens ; Port Famine, Capt. King.

Species parvula, erecta, 6-8-unciaKs. Culmi erecti, basi coespitosi, simpbces, fobati. Foliorum vagina teres, striata, hians, glabrata v. glaberrima ; ligula brevis, ovata, obtusa; lamina vagina plerumque brevior, 1-ly unc. longa, flaccida, lineari-lanceolata, acuminata, plana, striata, super pilis sparsis puberula, subter glaberrima. Panicula exemplaribus verosimibter immatmis basi vagina? inclusa, gracOis, inebnata, effusa ; ramis filiformibus, fascicidatis verticillatisve, divisis, flexuosis. Glunue sub unc. longa?, subaequales, compressa?, ovato-lanceolata?, acuminata;, puberula?, herbacea?, virides et purpurascentes, opaca;. Flosculi gbrmis ter breviores, cum arista omnino inclusi. Palea suba?quilonga?, inferior latiuscula. Stamina inclusa, antheris latiusculis. Squamula lineares, acuminata?, Ovarium breviter stipitatum.

Capt. King's specimens of this pretty Aira are scarcely mature, though sufficiently developed for examination ; the species ranks very near a Eocky Mountain one, chiefly differing in its smaller size, and in the pubescent upper surface of its leaves and glumes. Plate CXXXIV. Fig. 1, locusta; fig. 2, floret; fig. 3, stamens and pistil ; fig. 4, squamula : — aU magnified.