72 



TR1ANDRIA DIGYNIA. 



An entirely natural order, consisting of Gramina. Linn. 4. 

 (haminctc. Juss. 10. Br. Pr. 168. See Grammar, 68, 69. 

 No natural order can be more clear and distinct than this. 

 But why Jussieu changed its old name Gramina, for 

 Graminecc, I cannot discover. The plants are not grassy, 

 but grasses, ipsa gramina. To call them graminecc, is to 

 compare them to themselves. 

 The following view of their characters, taken chiefly from 

 Mr. Brown, will further illustrate what is contained in the 

 Grammar. 

 Flowers for the most part united ; sometimes monoecious ; 

 more frequently imperfect in one or other of their organs 

 of impregnation. 

 Calyx of Linnaeus, (glwna of Brown,) a husk, or glume, con- 

 taining 1 or 2 florets, or many yfor<tfs on a 2-ranked com- 

 mon stalk, or receptacle : it is mostly of 2 unequal valves, 

 rarely of 1 only, or entirely wanting. 

 Corolla, (perianth of Brown,) a similar husk, or glume, al- 

 most always of 2 valves, (rarely of but 1,) which are dis- 

 similar; the outermost generally keeled, having 1, 3, or 

 many longitudinal ribs, pointed, often cloven at the sum- 

 mit, often bearing from below the top, a jointed, twisting, 

 hygrometrical, often feathery, (rarely simple and straight,) 

 awn ; the innermost usually with 2 distant ribs, each at a 

 lateral fold ; generally without any awns, but with 2 if 

 any ; sometimes wanting. 

 Nectary of Linnaeus, (squa?nula? of Brown,) 1, or 2 com- 

 bined, minute, membranous or fleshy scales, beneath the 

 germen, either both at one side, between the outer valve 

 of the corolla and the stamens, or alternate with the 

 valves, and opposite to each other ; sometimes entirely 

 wanting. 

 Stamens below the germen, definite, except in Pariana ; flla- 

 ments long and capillary : anthers of 2 cells, oblong, pro- 

 minent, pendulous, forked and divaricated at each end. 

 Germen with a solitary kernel ; styles mostly 2, either di- 

 stinct, or partly combined, rarely 1 only, and still more 

 rarely 3; Stigmas rough, or feathery, sometimes branched, 

 or compound. 

 Seed with a close, simple, firmly united, membranous, co- 

 loured skin ; either naked, and unconnected ; or inclosed 



