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376 PLORA A NTARCT ICA. [Fiicgia, ihe
H a b . Ealkland Islands, M r. Wright. J . B . H . ; probably introduced.
There are specimens of this species in the Hookerian Herbarium, marked as collected in the Ealkland Islands
by Admiral D’Ui-ville, and others sent from Valdiria by J lr. Bridges. The plant is unquestionably the common
European “ Silver Hair Grass ” , aud accidentally introduced, for, as Jlr. Cui'tis remarks, “ so insiguificant an annual
can hardly be worth cultivating.”
3. A i r a Kingii, Hook, fil.j glaberrima, elata, panicula elongata effusa, ramis gracilibus subverticillatis,
glumis lanceolatis acuminatis albidis nitidis vix puberulis flosculis pedicellatis te r longioribus, palea inferiore
basi louge et dense sericeo-bai-bata apice truncata vix bifida irregulariter 4-dentata puberula obscure 3-nervi,
nervo intermedio supra medium in aiistam rectam palea paulo longiorem desinente superiore bifido, foliis
lineari-elongatis culmo brevioribus vagims profunde striatis duplo brevioribus. (T a b . CXXXV.)
K.ing ; South part of Tierra del E H a b . Strait of JIagalhaens ; Po rt Eamiue, ( uego, C. B a iivm . Esq.
Gramen elatum, 2-4-pedale, perenne, glaberrimum, nitens. Culmi cæspitosi, erecti, simplices, 2-3-nodosi,
crassitie pennæ anatinæ, obscure striati, internodiis 4 une. ad spithamæum et ultra. 'Foliorum radiealimn vagina
4-5 unc. longa, lamina brevior, cauhnorum internodiis brevior, profunde striata, fere ad basin Mans ; ligula
oblonga, scariosa, alba ; lamina angusta, herbácea v. subcoriacea, linearis, glaberrima, striata, marginibus siccitate
involutis. Panicula 6-10 unc. longa, inclinata, effusa, ramis fasciculatis verticillatisve, graciUimis, divisis, inferioribus
-f- paniculæ æquantibus, glaberrimis, superioribus pedicellisque scaberuhs. Spicidee lineari-oblongæ, fere
■4 unc. longæ, albidæ, basi purpurascentes, scariosæ, nitidæ. Glumæ 1-nerves, angustæ, acuminatæ. Flosculi
parvi, sub-longe pedicellati, inclusi, glumis ter breviores, pedicello ciliato. Faleæ puberulæ, albidæ, micantes,
scariosæ, subæquilongæ. Stamina sub-inclusa, antheris breviusculis. Squamulæ oblique lanceolato-ovatæ, acu-
minatæ. Ovarium compressum, obovato-oblongiun, styHs basi discretis.
A very handsome grass, somewhat resembling the British A. cæspitosa, but with very different locustæ and florets.
P late CXXXV. Fig. 1, locustæ ; Jig. 2, floret ; fig. 3, stamens and pistil ; fig. 4, squamula :—all ?
4. A t r a Magellanica, Hook, fil.; puberula, panicula effusa paucifiora raclii ramisque elongatis gracilibus
pubescenti-scaberulis, glumis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis subæqualibus 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. (T a b . CXXXIV.)
H a b . Strait of JIagalhaens ; P o rt Eamine, Capt. King.
Species parvula, erecta, 6- 8-uncialis. Culmi erecti, basi cæspitosi, simplices, foliati. Foliorum vagina teres,
striata, Mans, glabrata v. glaberrima; ligula brevis, ovata, obtusa; tern«® vagina plerumque brevior, l - l - i unc.
longa, flaccida, lineari-lanceolata, acuminata, plana, striata, super püis sparsis puberula, subter glabenima.
Panicula exemplaribus verosimiliter immaturis basi vaginæ inclusa, gracilis, inclinata, effusa ; ramis filiformibus,
fasciciüatis verticülatisve, divisis, flexuosis. Glumæ sub ^ unc. longæ, subæquales, compressæ, ovato-lanceolatæ,
acuminatæ, puberulæ, berbaceæ, virides et purpurascentes, opacæ. FloscuU glumis ter breviores, cmn arista
omnino inclusi. Paleæ subæquilongæ, inferior latiuscida. Stamina inclusa, antheris latiusculis. Squamulæ
lineares, acuminatæ, 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 Rocky Jlountain one, cMefly differing in its smaller size, and in the pubescent upper
surface of its leaves and glumes.
P late CXXXIV. Fig. 1, locusta; fig. 2, floret; fig. 3, stamens and pistil; fig. 4, squamula:—all ?
FaUdands, etc] FLO R A ANTAECTICA. 377
5. A i e a Antarctica, Hook,; panicula effusissima ramis fasciculatis capillaribus pecUcellisque elougatis,
spiculis lanceolatis 1 - 2 -floris setulaque flosculi secundi tertiive auctis, flosculis puberulis pedicellatis basi
sericeis, palea inferiore profunde bifida basi aristata, arista glumas superante, culmo brevi, foliis subulatis
longe vaginantibus. A. Antarctica, Hooh. Ic. P lant. 1 .150. (T a b . C X X X III.)
H a b . Hermite Island, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, and Kerguelen’s Land, abundantly, .J .D.H. ;
New South Shetlands, Dr. Eights.
Planta plioenogamica ante omnia Antarctica. Culmi dense cæspitosi, breves, 1-3-unciales, erecti piocumben-
tesve, foliosi. Folia glaberrima, herbácea, longe vaginantia; vagina |- 1 A nnc. longa, teres, striata; ligula
linearis, i imc. longa; lamina anguste lineari-subulata, margiuibus involutis, vaginæ æquilonga v. longior.
Panicula pro planta maxima, 4,-6 unc. longa, effusa, 3-6 unc. lata, v. ob ramos appressos angiistior ; ramis 1-5 unc.
longis pedicellisque scaberulis, capillaribus. Spiculæ angustæ, fere i uuc. longæ, 1-2 flores, uniflores semper
biflores sæpissime pedicello cihato floris alterius auetæ. G-lumæ lanceolatæ, cai-ina scabrida marginibus sub lente
ciliatis, apicibus acutis, flosculis pediceUatis inclusis bis longiores. Palea inferior cUiata, oblongo-lanceolata,
,scarioso-membranacea, bifida v. fere bicuspidata, sinu quadrato bidentato, dorso basi aristata; arista recta,
scaberula, paulo ultra glumas exserta. Stamina exserta, antheris brevibus. Squamulæ oblique ovatæ acuminatæ.
Ovarium breviter stipitatum, stylis basi discretis divaricatis.
This elegant grass, appropriately named A. Antarctica, attains a higher southem latitude than any other
flowering plant, being the only phænogamic species that inhabits the South Shetland Islands. Kerguelen’s Land in
latitude 48° is its northem Umit ; but that Island being situated in a longitude where the rigour of the Antarctic
climate extends further north than in any other, this grass is even there more tjpieal of the frigid zone than the
latitude woidd indicate, and always seeks the most sheltered places. In the Falkland Islands again, the most
temperate region it inhabits, it invariably avoids shelter, being found chiefly in open marshy places near the sea,
fuUy exposed to the violence of the winds.
P I..4TE CXXXIII. F ig .l, two locustæ and portion of panicle ; Jig. 2, a floret from the same ; Jig. S, squamula ;
Jig. 4, single-flowered locusta ; Jig. 5, floret from the same :—aU ?
6 . A i e a parvula. Hook. fil. ; cæspitosa, puberula v. glabrata, panicula erecta contracta subsimplici
paucifiora ramis brevibus locustisque erectis, glumis lanceolatis acmniuatis flosculis pediceUatis triplo longioribus,
palea inferiore late ovata basi barbata apice bifida inter segmentes acutos bidentata dorso supra
basin aristata, arista geniculata glumas vix excedente, foliis setaceis culmo brevioribus.
H a b . Hermite Island, Cape Ho rn ; rocks neai' tlie mountain tops, J . D. H.
Gramen 3-5-unciale, foliosum, dense cæspitosum, rigidiusculum. Culmi erecti, basi fibrosi et pluries
divisi, foliis peiplm-imis vaginati. Folia 2 unc. longa, stricta, erecta. anguste subulata. glabrata v. pilis patulis
pubenda, subeoriacea, marginibus involutis ; vagina latiuscula, membranacea ; ligula valde elongata, scariosa,
linearis, acummata. PoKinrfo 1 -lA-nncialis, stricta, erecta; ramis paucis, brevibus, l-floris, paniculæ appressis.
Locustæ .(■ une. longæ. Glmnæ æquales, glabriusculæ. Flosculorum pediceUi sericeo-bai-bati ; flosculi superioris
palea superior setula aucta. Squamulæ ovatæ, acuminatæ. Ovarium obtusum, stylis discretis, lateralibus.
A remarkably distinct little species, most ueaily allied to A. Antarctica, but distmct in the foliage, the very
different panicle, aud shorter florets.
9. TRISETUM, Kunth.
1. T eisetdm subspieatum, Beauv., Agrost. p. 8 8 . Ft. Antarct. P t. 1. p. 97. T. andinum, Benth.
Pla n t. Hartweg. p. 261. n. 1449.
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