Gramen foliosum, 3 unc. ad bipedale. Culmi robusti, basi pluries divisi, prostrati v. repentes; pars repeus validus, saepe pedalis ; pars erectus per totam longitudinern foliosus, compressus. Folia plurima, distiche inserta, elongata, coriacea sed non rigida ; vagina aperta, folio brevior, compressa, striata ; ligula brevis, fimbriata; lamina culrnuru paniculamque superans, plana v. dorso subcarinata, utrinque Isevis, 2-4-lin. lata, gradatini in apicem acuminatam angustata. Panicula 2 ad 8 unc. longa, erecta v. paulo inclinata, -| unc. lata, subcontinua v. verticillatini interrupta. Locusta late ovato-oblongae, 3-4-flores, sub 8-lin. longa;. Oluma superior 3-nervis, inferiore l-neri longior, flosculis breviter pedicellatis brevior. Palea inferior ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, concava, vix carinata ; nervo medio dorso superne cib'ato, inferne barbato ; flosculo superiore infimoque apice aciuninato, in- tegerrimo, duobus intermediis apicem versus utrinque uni-dentatis ; palea superior inferiore brevior, bifida. Antliera lineares. Caryopsis oblonga, cylindracea.
The commonest grass in Kerguelen's Land and a very valuable one, affording a rich and abundant fodder. The tendency in the palea to become toothed on each side towards the apex, and the distichous, long, and particularly rich foliage, show its affinity with the Tussock and with the Festuca foliosa of Lord Auckland's group, which chiefly differs from this in its larger panicle. These three grasses are certainly representatives of one another, and all typical of moist Insrdar climates; their northern analogues are evidently the F. Bonax, Lowe, of Madeira, and F. albida, Lowe, of the same island.
Plate CXXXIX. Fig. 1, locusta; Jig. 2, floret ; fig. 3, squamula ; fig. 4, caryopsis : — all magnified.
§ 2. Flosculis arista terminatis.
6. Festuca purpurascens, Banks et Sol. MSS.; elata, panicula laxa ramis elongatis apicibus paucifloris, locustis oblongis niulti- S-floris, glurnis trinerviis lanceolatis superiore ter rnajore, flosculis glabriusculis, paleis 5-nerviis apice 3-dentatis dente interrnedio in aristam producto, foliis planis culmo brevioribus. (Tab. CXL.)
Hab. Strait of Magalhaens ; Port Famine, Capt. King ; Fuegia ; Good Success Bay, Banks and Solander, C. Darwin, Esq.
Radix stolonifera. Culmi 2-4-pedales, graciles, erecti, glaberrimi, striati, politi, remote nodosi. Folia pauca, culinum vaginantia, patentia, flexuosa; vagina pedales, teretes, superne hiantes ; ligula brevis, transversa; lamina plana, utrinque Isevis, vagina brevior longiorve, gradatim supra medium acuminata. Panicula 6 unc. longa, laxa, inclinata; ramis paucis, elongatis, filiformibus, versus apices divisis. Locusta fere -i-unc. longa;. Glumes flosculis pedicellatis basi nudis breviores. Palea inferior dorso convexa, supeme prsecipue pilosinscida, superiorem bifidam paulo breviorem amplectans, nitida, purpureo-picta, 5-nervis, nervis scaberulis. Squamula 2, profunde bifida;. Ovarium obovatum, superne pilosiun ; styli basi discreti.
A tall and handsome grass, allied to the South Brazilian F. fimbriata, Nees, in which the palea; are not awned, and the leaves are convolute. In general habit it resembles somewhat the European F. elatior.
Plate CXL. Fig. 1, locusta; fig. 2, floret; fig. 3, pistil and squamula; ; fig. 4, squamula; : — all magnified.
7. Festuca duriuscida, Linn., Sp. PI. 108. Engl. Bot. t. 470. Hab. Strait of Magalhaens ; Port Famine, Capt. King.
Capt. King's specimens are nearly two feet high, in which respect only they differ from ordinary forms of those of British growth. The leaves are erect and involute.
8. Festuca gracillima, Hook, fil.; elata, glaberrirna, panicula simplici elongata pauciflora inclinata, locustis majusculis pedunculis compressis longioribus multi-7-9-floris, gluims inaecmalibus lineari-oblongis
