ALOPECURUS OYATUS.
Alpine Fox-tail.
S pec. C h a r . Spike ovate; corolla without an arista.
T h is new species of Fox-tail grass was first shewn us in Scotland, being found upon one of the
northern mountains by Mr. Brown, and it was afterwards sent us by Mr. G. Don, of Forfar,* whose
ardour and perseverance have enabled him to traverse a larger extent of the alpine regions o f his country
than perhaps any other botanist. Alopecurus ovatus has hitherto been found only upon Loch-ne-gar,
the giant of Aberdeenshire.------ All our specimens were solitary, unconnected plants, upright, arid
about a foot high: the calyx is furnished with a large quantity o f woolly hair, longer and more abundant
than that which clothes the A. pratensis: the corolla is free from wool, excepting in the upper
part, where we find a small quantity, and it is totally divested of an arista! a circumstance that marks
with precision this species, being the only British one that is free from it; but until we are agreed for
what end and designation the awn in grasses was given, to guess the cause o f exemption in this instance
must be premature.----- Tt is our duty in a work o f this nature to delineate every species that falls within
our sphere; but to delineate, and partially describe only, must be our lot in many instances; the
rarity of the individual, and obscurity of its habitation, will effectually preclude all observation as to
its destination or utility in the chain o f .creation.------ —A very considerable portion o f the late additions
to our Flora have been derived from the alpine regions of Scotland, and afield so varied and extensive
cannot yet be exhausted; the peculiarities of the soil f and climate allow us sufficient reason for
conjecturing that much remains undiscovered, nor do the impediments attending the access to these
storehouses.of Nature afford but a feeble barrier to the enthusiasm of science: ( incresqunt quotannis
scientific.’
A, the Calyx.
. B, the Corolla.
* This gentleman has since been appointed to superintend the Botanical Gardens at Edinburgh.