From the centre of the stem arises the peduncle, which, includ- 
ing the long spike, rises ten to twelve feet: upon this peduncle, 
which is stout in proportion to its height, the leaves gradually 
pass into subulate dracts, which become as though one higher 
up in the compound spite. Mazz Puant: Spike yellow. 
Flowers very dense on the spikelets, small, each of six, obovate, 
retuse, erect sepa/s, greenish-white, streaked with red at the tip. 
Stamens six, large. Filaments much exserted. Anthers oblong, 
yellow, large. Adortive ovary three, small, conical bulbs on the 
disc.—A few of the flowers proved to be female: ovary obcor- 
date, three-lobed, abortive in our plant. 
Fig. 1. Plant, greatly reduced in size. 2. Apex of a leaf, nat. size. 8. Up- 
per portion of a male spike, nat. size. 4. Portion of a leaf. 5. Male flower. 
6. Abortive pistil. 7. Ovary from a female flower :—magnified. 
