322 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA., Ischemum. 
ple peduncle; united at the base, at all times continuing 
close asifone, Rachis very hairy, and jointed. Flowers from 
four to eight pairs on each spike, one sessile, the other sub- 
sessile. Calyces nearly alike, two-valved, two-flowered ; the 
exterior valves even, acute, and uncommonly woolly on the 
back ; the inner boat-shaped, acute, and smooth, In each, one 
of the florets is hermaphrodite, the other male. Corols all two- 
valved, hyaline; the imer valve of the hermaphrodite floret 
in the sessile flower bifid and awned. Stamina three. reser 
; twee 
5. I. geniculatum. R. é 
Stems geniculate, creeping, smooth. Leaves ensiform. 
Spikes conjugate, apparently only one. Calyces two-flower- 
ed, smooth, and crested ; with the hermaphrodite flowers awn- 
ed.» 
A small species, a native of Bengal. Flowering time the 
cool season. Oi 1 
Culms polished, from one to two feet long, very ramous, 
diffuse, geniculate ; joints large, emitting smooth, very brown 
roots, Leaves small, ensiform, smooth; sheath smooth, and 
shorter than the polished joints of the culm. Spikes terminal, 
- conjugate, generally so close as to seem only one, smooth, 
about an inch long. Rachis jointed, flexuose ; angles sharp, and 
sometimes hairy. Flowers paired, one sessile, one  peduncled. 
-Calyces, both two-flowered ; one hermaphrodite and awn- 
ed, the-other male and. ae ee Exterior valve of the sessile 
flower enlarged with two, hard, serrulate crests, one on each 
side of the apex; nner mucronate, with a similar crest on the — 
back, under the apex ; of the pedicelled flower both are boat- 
shaped, mucronate, or sub-aristate, and the exterior one crest- 
ed on the back under the apex ; all are smooth and marked 
with green, longitudinal veins. Corols two-valved; the exte- 
rior valve of the hermaphrodite flowers bifid and avenibds aah) 
