60 TRIANDRIA. DTGTNIA. 



CoroUa 1 ojp 2-valved, with or without a termi- 

 nal awn. Stamina 1 to 3. 



§ II. Erianthus, Michcinx. Panicles appressed, al- 

 most in the form of a spike; interior glume of the corolla 

 always termifjated by along awn. Stamina 2. (Nearly al- 

 lied to Andropogon) 



Culm tall and solid, terminated by an appressed spike- 

 like panicle; involucrate villus, of various lengths; inner 

 glume of the corolla always awned, awn straight; (in E. 

 contortus spirally twisted, and the flowers alternately pe- 

 dicellate: perhaps an Andropogon;) leaves expanding; calix 

 l-flowered. 



Species. 1. alopecnroideum. (The trivial name of ^■- 

 gantevm given by Walter and retained by Persooxi, can 

 only be- used with propriety relative to the genus with 

 which Walter at first associated it; as a Saccharum, which 

 it is, although indeed tall, it is almost every way inferior 

 in size to the other species of the genus) 2. brevibarbe. 

 3. strictjim, El. 4. contovhan. El. 



This genus with tiie exception of the North American 

 section, is confined to the tropics. There is 1 species in 

 Teneriffe, 1 in Japan; the iS*. officinarwn or true sugar- 

 cane, with four other species are natives of India; there 

 is another species in the West Indies, 1 in Guinea, and 1 

 in Italy, with the S. cuUndricum common to the South of 

 Europe and Barbary. 



88. ANDROPOGON. L. (Beard-grass) 



Fl(»wers in pairs, polyi^amous; the herma- 

 phrodite sessile; the masculine or neutral flow- 

 er, without awn and pedicellate. — Hermaphro- 

 dite. Calix 2-valved, l-flowered. Corolla of 3 

 valves; the second valve smaller and awned. the 

 third interior minute. Stamina 1 to 3. Recepta- 

 cle or rachis mostly villous. Iivtolucrum^ a fas- 

 ciculate villus at tlie base of the flowers. (In 

 many species the leaves are boat-shaped, or like 

 tumid sheathes.) 



Culm tall, generally cleft into numerous fiat branches, 

 terminating usually in proliferous or concatenated branch- 

 lets (called spikes), disposed by pairs, by threes, or 

 more, and then digitate arising from the summit of sin- 

 gle lateral or terminal peduncles, either naked, or more 



