Meiica. TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 327 



A large beautiful species, a native of hedges, thickets, &c. 



Culms near the base procumbent, but when supported by 

 bushes erect and often from four to five feet high. Leaves 

 upperside somewhat, hairy ; mouths of the sheaths bearded. 

 Spikes four to five, digitate, secund, spreading, filiform, 

 from six to nine inches long, hairy at the base. Rachis three- 

 sided. Flowers in two rows, sessile, awned. Calyx one-flow- 

 ered; glumes unequal, the interior being three or four times 

 longer than the exterior, and short-awned. Corol, valves un- 

 equal, the largest has a long awn issuing- just below its apex 

 on the outside. Corpuscle, or neuter floret pedicelled, and 

 awned. 



2. M. refracta. R. 



Perennial, ascending. Leaves lanceolate. Panicle ovate, 

 with the ramifications refracted. Petals bearded, with stiff 

 refracted bristles. 



A native of the Moluccas, and from thence introduced 

 amongst other plants, into the Botanic garden, where it blos- 

 soms during: the cold season. 



Root perennial. Culms ascending, from one to three feet 

 long - , round and smooth. Leaves lanceolate, smooth ; sheaths 

 smooth, scarcely bearded at the mouths. Panicle terminal, 

 ovate ; ramifications somewhat compound, and refracted like 

 the drooping branches of some species of Pin us. Calyx 

 smooth, two-valved, two-flowered, with an abortive third, or 

 the rudiment of one. Com I, exterior glumes, chiefly of the 

 second flower, bearded with refracted, sharp, stiff bristles 

 which fix to every thing that touches them. 



3. M. diandra. R. 



Smooth. Culms from two to four feet high. Leaves lanceo- 

 late. Panicle of long, simple, expanding racemes ; flowers 

 awnless, diandrous. 



Poa malabarica. Linn. sp. pi. ed. Willd. i. 394. 



A native of mountains on the Coromandel coast, 



U4 



