waterfall named the High Force, usually growing in crevices
of the rock. Mr. Borrer has found it also as low down the
river as the confluence of the Greta.
Root perennial, casspitose; producing numerous stems of
a foot or more in length, which are slightly compressed, and
smooth, and bear four or five leaves with smooth striated
sheaths; the uppermost sheath is always, we believe, longer
than its leaf, and is crowned with a very short and truncate
ligule, the length of which is at least six times exceeded by
its breadth. Several of the joints of the stem are usually uncovered,
the uppermost always. Leaves flat, acute, rough at
the edges. Inflorescence compound, panicled, rather close,
with slender rough branches. Spikelets ovate, of two or three
florets. Glumes unequal, acute, three-nerved, the midrib minutely
toothed near its extremity. Florets not webbed, although
occasionally one or two longer hairs may be taken for
a web. Outer palea five-nerved, the dorsal and marginal
nerves hairy on their lower half; the dorsal minutely rough
at the summit; intermediate nerves faint, glabrous. Anthers
long. Scales long, attenuated, each with a tooth on one side.
This grass is closely allied to P. nemoralis and several
others, but the want of a web to its florets separates it from
most of them, and its habit is very different. From P. poly-
noda of Parnell, its nearest ally, its fewer stem-leaves, short
truncate ligule, spikelets of fewer florets, and more acute and
more unequal glumes distinguish it.
Our figure was taken from specimens gathered by the High
Force in Teesdale by Mr. Borrer in August 1845, where the
plant was detected by the writer a few years previously and
submitted to Dr. Parnell, who pointed out its claims to specific
distinction.—C. C. B.