71 



TRIANDRIA DIGYNTA. 



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

 Gramincce, Juss. 10. Br. Pr. 168. See Grammar, 6^, 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 woX. grassy, 

 but grasses, ipsa gramina. To call them graminece, 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, 



i^^ow^■5 for the most part united; sometimes monoecious; 

 more frequently imperfect in one or other of their organs 

 of impregnation. 



Calijx of Linnaeus, {ghima of Brown,) a husk, or glume, con- 

 taining 1 or 2jlorets, or many Jlorets on a 2-ranked co7n- 

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

 rarely of 1 only, or entirely wanting. 



Corolla, i^pcrianth of Brown,) a similar husk, ov 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, (rarel}^ 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, {squamulcE of Brown,) 1, or 2 com- 

 bined, minute, membranous or fleshy scales, beneath the 

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

 of the corolla and the stame?is, or alternate with the valves, 

 and opposite to each other; someiimes entirely wanting. 



Stamens below the germen, deflnite, except in Pariana ; ^fila- 

 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, rai'ely 1 only, and still more 

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

 or compound. 



Seed with a close, sim})le, flrmly united, membranous, co- 

 loured skin; either naked, and uncoimected ; or inclosed 

 in the })ennancnt hardened valves of the corolla, consti- 



