Rotthcellia, triandria digynia. 353 



valve less rigid. Corol two-valved, membranaceous. Stamens 

 three. Styles two. 



Male or neuter Flowers. Calyx two-valved, one-flow- 

 ered. Corol two-valved. Stamens three or none. 



ROTTBCELLIA. Schreb. gen. N. 1572. 



Rachis (generally) jointed, variously excavated for the 

 reception of one, or two flowers in a two-valved calyx, in 

 each excavation. 



1. R. glabra. R. 



Near the base creeping, with extremities erect, smooth. 

 Leaves bifarious, all hermaphrodite. Calyx one-flowered ; co- 

 rol three- valved. 



Bemf. B?/ksha. 



A native of Bengal, where it grows on pasture lands, the 

 borders of rice fields, and other moist places. Cattle are fond 

 of it. 



Culms jointed, smooth, compressed, filled with pith, creep- 

 ing near the principal root for a foot or more, the remaining 

 part from one to two, or even three feet, erect. Leaves al- 

 ternate, bifarious, approximate, short, spreading, ensiform, 

 smooth. Sheaths shorter than the joints of the culm, smooth. 

 Spikes axillary, solitary, or in pairs, with a solitary terminal 

 one, subulate, three-sided, smooth, short-peduncled, the pe- 

 duncles with generally a part of the spikes hid in the sheaths 

 of the leaves ; general length from two to three inches. Flow- 

 ers opposite, in general all, or the greatest part hermaphro- 

 dite, and as long as the joints of the rachis. Calyx one-flow- 

 ered, two-valved, smooth, cartilaginous. The exterior valve 

 of one of the pair obliquely emarginate, the other acute. Co- 

 rol, the hermaphrodite and male three-valved, one valve on 

 the inside, and two on the outside; all tinged with deep red 

 at the base. 



VOL. I. W 



