Andropogon. triandria digynia. 275 



pie, smooth, about as thick as a goose-quill. Leaves many, 

 near the root bifarious, few on the upper part of the culm, 

 of a soft texture, pale, green colour, slightly scabrous on the 

 margins when drawn backward against the fingers, other- 

 wise smooth; from three to four feet long including their 

 sheaths, and about three-quarters of an inch broad. Floral 

 leaves small. Panicle linear, a little bent to one side, compos- 

 ed of many fascicles of spikes that are both terminal, and from 

 the exterior axills. Spikes generally paired on a common pe- 

 duncle, with a common boat-like spathe, or involucre at the 

 division ; each has also its proper pedicel, and both spathe- 

 shaped. Rachis articulated, much waved, hairy. Flowers 

 in pairs, one hermaphrodite and sessile, the other male and 

 pedicelled ; the last hermaphrodite flower of each spike has 

 two males ; below, only one male, as the rachis occupies the 

 place of the other ; this is the case with most of the species of 

 the genus. 



Hermaphrodite Flowers sessile. Glume girt at the base 

 with wool, &c. as in the family. Corol two-valved, awnless. 

 Nectary, two, broad, short, wedge-formed, obliquely lobed, 

 crenulated bodies embrace the insertions of the filaments and 

 the forepart of the germ. 



Male Flowers pedicelled. Calyx, glumes as in the her- 

 maphrodite ones. Corol one-valved, awnless. Nectary as in 

 the hermaphrodite. Stamens three. 



Obs. The fresh leaves are much used as a substitute for 

 tea. The white succulent centre of the leaf-bearing culms is 

 often put into curries, to give them an agreeable flavour. 



35. A. Iwarancusa. Philosoph. Transact, vol. 80. 284. 1. 16. 



Perennial, erect. Leaves long, and very slender. Panicles 

 linear; spikelets paired, five jointed, with common spathes ; 

 hermaphrodite flowers awned ; male one-valved and awnless. 



Beng. and Hind. Ibharankwsha, Iwarank?*sha, Kttran- 

 kwsha. 



Iwarancussa. Asial. Res. iv. 109. 



R2 



