MR. G. BENTHAM ON GRAMINEZE. U 29 
and accurately described in comparatively few species. The cha- 
racters thus ascertained in a single one have been supposed to 
belong necessarily to the whole genus; and when differences have 
afterwards been found in some other species, it has at once been 
generieally separated, without ascertaining whether these dif- 
ferences might not be reconciled or connected through other 
species. Before, therefore, we can ascertain the real generic 
value of characters which cannot be tested in herbarium speci- 
mens, it is necessary that we should have them well and authen- 
tieally described in a much greater number of species from 
actual observation. I have on several occasions had reason to 
believe that, in long-detailed descriptions drawn up by accurate 
botanists from dried specimens, the seminal characters have been 
rather guessed at on theoretical grounds, than actually verified on 
really ripe seeds. 
Following out the views of General Munro as to the general 
arrangement of the Order in as far as I have been able to ascer- 
tain them, we have divided it into tribes and subtribes, of which 
the following are the most prominent characters, omitting for 
the present exceptional forms, which occur in almost all of 
them :— 
A. PawrCACE E. Spicule cum pedicello infra glumas articulate, 
flore fertili unieo terminali, addito interdum inferiore masculo 
v. sterili. 
Tribus i. Paniceze. Spiculæ hermaphroditze, rarius abortu unisexuales, 
spicate v. paniculate, rhachi inflorescentia inarticulata. Gluma 
florens exaristata, fructifera indurata v. saltem exterioribus rigidior. 
Tribus ii. Maydee. Spicula unisexuales, mascule terminales spicatæ 
v. panieulatz v. (in Pariana) foemineam circumdantes, foeminez in- 
feriores spicatze, cum rhacheos internodio (excepta Zea) articulatim 
secedentes. x 
Tribus iii. Oryzeze. Spicule hermaphrodite v. rarius unisexuales, pani- 
culatz v. spicat:e, rhachi inflorescentiz inarticulata. Gluma sub flore 
summa (palea ?) uninervis v. carinata. 
Tribus iv. Tristegines. Spicule hermaphrodite, secus panicule ra- 
mulos inarticulatos solitariæ v. rarius gemin v. fasciculate, cum 
pedicello articulata. Glumæ vacuæ aristatz v. muticte, florens hyalina 
v. tenuiter membranacea, arista geniculata terminata v. mutica. 
Tribus v. Zoysies. Spicule hermaphrodite v. nonnulle imperfecte, 
cum rhachi inarticulata spice simplicis sigillatim v. fasciculatim ar- 
ticulate. Gluma florens membranacea, sepius vacuis minor hyali- 
naque. 
LINN. JOURN.—BOTANY, VOL. XIX. E 
