GRAMINE^. 



429 



rostrate, costate, bifurcate, glabrous, subinflated at the base, about equaling 

 the ovate, long-setaceous or long awned glume ; stem about 2 feet high, rough ; 

 leaves and bracts larger than the stem ; light green. Shores of lake Ontario, 

 N. Y. Sartwell. Also found in the State of Georgia. 



ORDER CLXI. GRAM1NE.E. The Grass Tribe. 



Fls. — In liule spikelets composed of bracts imbricated in 2 rows. 



Glumes. — Outer bracts {calyx, Linn.) generally 2 and unequal, sometimes 1 only. 



Paleee. — Inner bracts (corolla, Linn.) 2, alternate, the lower (exterior) one simple, the upper 



(interior) often doul)ly carinate, being- composed of 2 pieces united by their edges. 

 Scales. — Innermost bracts (nectary, Linn, rudimentary petals) 1 — 3, distinct or united, mem- 

 Sta. — 1 — 6, commonly 3. Anthers versatile. [branous, hypogynous. 



Ora. — Simple, with 2 styles and 2 feathery stigmas. Fruit a carj'opsis. . [the hilum. 



&;«rf— With the embryo situated on the outside of farinaceous albumen, at the base, next 

 An immense order of herbaceous plants, of the highest importance to man. Stems 

 (r.ulm.'i) mostly cylindrical, hollow, jointed and closed internally at the nodes. Leaves 

 alternate, entire, parallel-veined and generally linear, sheathing at the base, with the 

 sheaths split down to the node on one side. Flowers generally perfect, the spikelets 

 arranged in spikes, racemes or panicles. The grasses are universally diffused throughout 

 the world, having no other limits than those that bound vegetation in general. But the 

 species and their characters are widely different in difierent climes. In temperate zones 

 the grasses clothe a large portion of the earth's surface with a compact, soft, green, caipet- 

 like turf; but in tropical regions this beautiful gras.sy turf disappears and the grasses 

 become larger, more isolated like other plants, fewer in the number of individuals, with 

 broader leaves and more showy flowers. 



Properties. This family doubtless contributes more to the sustenance of man and beast 

 than all others combined. Its sweet and nutritious properties reside both in the farinaceous 

 albumen of the seed and in the herbage. No poisonous or even suspicious herb is found 

 among them, with the single exception of Lolium temulentum. The poisonous and me- 

 dicinal ergot or spurred rye is only a parasitic fungus, and therefore forms no exception to 

 this remark. The stems of many grasses contain sugar, as the inaize and sugar-cane. 

 Srlex is also a frequent ingredient. To this order belong the common grains, maize, wheat, 

 rye, rice, barley, oats. &c. The most impoitant of the cultivated grasses are Phleum or 

 Timothy grass, several kinds of Poa, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Festuca, Aira, i'anicum, Cinua, 

 Biiza, &c. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 

 * Spikelets l-floivered. 

 •s ( Fruit white, 



u g r sessile. ( Fruit black. . 



S ^ f cartilaginous, ( stipitate. Fruit black. 



g ts j" with a) (naked. Stamen!. 



S 8 J single ] herbaceous, ( hairy. Stamens 3. . 

 ~ c f-S 1 awn, [membranaceous, l-kee!ed. 

 to CL, t lower one with 3 awns ; upper very miimte. 



_c3 j" o J ( Paleaj coriaceous. 



"m 2 I I Stigmas 2. ( Palece membranaceous, 



p J g PalccB ( 2. I Stigmas 3. Panicle dense. 

 . C 5 " (. awnless, ( solitary'. Panicle capillary. 

 ^ S I o I awned as well as the palea;. Panicle conglomerate. . 

 ^ lo J j subequal, one awned. Panicle capillary. 



Glumes minute, | unequal, one of them hardly perceptible. 



( Stamens 1,2 or 3. Palese awnless. 

 Glumes 0. ( Stamens G. Paleaj awned. Polygamous. 

 . < ' j Glumes unequal, lanceolate. Aquatic. 



Glumes equal, roundish, thin. . 

 Awns shorter than the glumes. 

 Awns longer than the glumes. . 

 ( Gluines with long awns. Spike 1. 



in unilateral spikes. 



05 [ in cylindrical spike 



( Stems 

 Spikelets in pairs 

 or 3s, polygamous. 



fistulous, j Glumes awnless. Sterile fl. pedicellate. Andtopogon. 



Stem solid with pith. Flowers paniculate. 

 * * Spikelets 2-Jloivered, one of the flowers abortive. 

 j Glumes unequal. 

 f PaleED awnless. | Glumes equal, striped. 

 Inflorescence paniculate. . . | Paleoe awned. Glumes unequal. 

 Inflorescence linear, unilateral spikes, generally digitate. 

 Inflorescence a compound, cylindrical, bristly spike 



