24 MR. G. BENTHAM ON GRAMINEZ. 
the bracts performing the functions of the deficient perianth 
are always, I believe, on the main axis, like the glumes of Gra- 
mines. Then, again, the perfect union of the two lobes of the 
palea or of the two lodicules, or even the occasional development 
of a single central nerve or central lobe, is no absolute proof that 
they are not in fact double organs ; for where tho segments of a 
perianth are united in a tube or cup, the lateral nerves of two 
adjoining segments (sepals or petals) often coalesce into a single 
one which may protrude at the top into an intermediate tooth or 
lobe. Hackel has well shown that the unity or duplicity is the 
same in the case of the palea and of the two lodicules; but it is 
only conjecturally that he continues the parallel through the third 
lodicule, which, when present, never shows any tendency to divi- 
sion, and whose insertion is not perceptibly higher up than that 
of the two others. It is quite true that it is often much smaller 
than the other two, sometimes very minute ; but in several spe- 
cies of Stipa, in the majority of Bambusew &c., I have seen the 
three quite equal and perfectly similar. The only instances I know 
of more than three lodieules are those of Ochlandra, where they 
are exceedingly irregular, and of Reynaudia, where I find four in 
two pairs, as described and figured by Kunth; but then the outer 
pair, although closely contiguous (on the opposite side of the 
floral axis) to the upper ones, appear to me to represent the palea 
which is otherwise deficient. The minute bodies above the lodi- 
cules in the female flowers of Pariana, which Doell mistook for 
additional lodicules, appear to me to be rudimentary staminodia ; 
they are very minute and irregular, and not always to be found. 
I have observed that the search for homologues to the palea and 
lodicules in the Orders nearly allied to Graminez has met with 
but little success. The only representation of the palea that | 
can find is that mentioned in my above-guoted paper (Journ. Linn. 
Soc. (Bot.) xv. p. 516), where it is compared with the hypogynous 
scales of Hypoelytrum pungens and Platylepis ; and I find that in 
some species of Hriocaulon (Flora Australiensis, vii. p. 190) the 
perianth is composed of two outer segments inserted near the base 
of the floral axis and two or three inner ones close under the 
andrecium, or these inner ones occasionally deficient, the arrange 
ment passing gradually through other species to the normal two 
contiguous series of two or three each. It might therefore be 
suggested that the palea and lodicules of Gramine represent 
perianth-segments of an outer and inner series, although I by no 
