276 TRIANDRIA DTGYNIA. Jlndl'OpogOTl. 



A native of the skirts of the northern mountains of India. 

 Dr. Blane found it between the river Raptee and the moun- 

 tains, and Dr. Boyd about Hurdvvar; it is therefore probably 

 a native of a very extensive tract along the skirts of that 

 range of mountains which bounds the plains of Bengal, Ba- 

 har, Oude, &c. Flowering time the rainy season. 



It grows in large tufts, each tuft composed of a number of 

 plants adhering together by their roots. 



Root perennial, the principal parts thereof are thicker than 

 a crow's quill, and marked with circular cicatrices, from 

 these issue many small, firm, aromatic fibres. Culms erect, 

 generally simple ; from three to six feet high, smooth in every 

 part, not hollow, but filled with a light spongy substance. 

 Leaves, those near the root longer than the joints of the culm, 

 margins hispid when the finger is drawn backwards over 

 them, otherwise smooth in every part. Panicle axillary, and 

 terminal, or the whole may be reckoned a long linear, erect, 

 or drooping, intercepted panicle, composed of numerous, (ma- 

 ny of them proliferous,) fascicles of slender, pedicelled, thin 

 spikes of five joints; each fascicle is furnished with its own 

 proper boat-shaped spathe, besides many chaffy bractes 

 within it among - the insertions of the pedicels ; and a proper 

 spathe to each pair of spikes. JFlotvers on the body of thera- 

 chis paired ; one awned, hermaphrodite, and sessile ; the other 

 awnless, male, and pedicelled, the terminal florets are three, 

 one hermaphrodite, sessile, and awned ; the other two male, 

 pedicelled, and awnless. 



Hermaphrodite. Calyx one-flowered, two-valved, base 

 girt with wool, as is also the rachis, and proper pedicels. 

 Corol two-valved, and fringed ; inner valvelets two-parted, 

 with a short arista in the fissure. Nectary two, minute, leaf- 

 lets embracing the germ laterally. Stamens, pistil, and seed, 

 as in the genus. 



Male. Calyx as in the hermaphrodite. Corol one-valved ; 

 nectary and stamens as in the hermaphrodite, no pistil. 



