GYNERIUM (from gyne, female, and erion, wool; in reference to the stigmas being woolly). Pampas Grass. ORD. Gramineae. A genus of three species of very ornamental hardy, or nearly hardy, herbaceous grasses, natives of tropical and sub-tropical America. They have two-flowered spikelets and dioecious flowers. GYNERIUM argenteum thrives best in a light sandy soil, well enriched with stable manure. The best positions for it are well-prepared shrubbery borders, or sheltered places in the flower garden or pleasure ground, where it will be protected from high winds. It requires plenty of water when making growth. Propagated by seeds, sown under glass, the young plants being grown on in pots until sufficiently large to plant outside. If it is desired to utilise the plumes for indoor decoration, they should be cut from the plants during the latter part of summer. GYNERIUM argenteum (silvery).* fl. disposed in a very large, dense, terminal, silky panicle, which, including the stalk, attains a height of from 6ft. to 10ft. Autumn. l. linear, glaucous-green, about 6ft. long, in large dense tufts, 4ft. to 6ft. high, and as much across; edges very rough. Temperate South America, 1848. 164. Varieties have been raised with purplish or yellowish-tinted panicles.