Leersia. hexandria digynia. 207 



leaves smooth, with ample, waved, fring^ed mouths, be- 

 ing^ a coatiimation of the leaves themselves. Panicles 

 terminal, contracted, subcyliudric- Flowers solitary, 

 pedicelled. Calyx of two, minute, subulate valvelets. 

 Coro/ two-valved, smooth ; the exterior one boat shaped, 

 and daggered. 



I have not been able to learn that any use is made of 

 this sort, nor even to obtain any Asiatic name for it. 



^ LEERSIA. Soland. 

 Cahjx ; glume two-valved, one-flowered. Corol none. 



1. L. aristata. R. 



Leaves lanceolate. Panicles diverging. Flowers pair- 

 ed, exterior valve of the calyx awned. 



Nir-valli-pullu. Rheed. Mai. 10. t. 12. 



Beng. Junglee dal. 



Found growing on the surface of deep, standing, sweet 

 water, in the vicinity of Calcutta. Flowering time the 

 cold season. Compare with Pharus arisfatus. 



Clums jointed, long, floating on, and in the water ; 

 emitting numerous roots from the joints ; apices above 

 the water sub-erect. Sheaths much longer than the 

 joints, and about as long as the leaves. Leaves sheath- 

 ing, sublanceolate, rather obtuse ; cordate at the base ; 

 striated and clouded with dark brownish spots above, 

 scabrous. Panicles thin. Flowers paired on pedicels 

 of very unequal lengths, all hermaphrodite. Calyx ; glume 

 one-flowered, two-valved ; valvelets long, hispid, about 

 five-nerved the exterior ending in a pretty long straight 

 arista. Coi'ol none. Nectary two-leaved, obcordate, 

 crenulate. Stamens six. Germ ovate. Styles two. Stig- 

 mas plumose. 



2. L. ciliata. R. 



Leaves linear-lanceolate, margins backwardly hispid. 



