PW' TRIAHSRIA OlttYNIA. 335 



about the base of the culms, rigid margins hispid. — Panicle erect, 

 linear-oblong, often tending to a conical form, composed of many 

 somewhat three-fold, verticelled, horizontal, short, rigid, secund ra- 

 mifications. Spikelets many-tlowered, depending, in two rows, 

 from the under side of the ramifications. — Corof, valves pointed, the 

 inner one r^ather the largest. 



Obs. It is employed by the brahmmis in their religions ceremo- 

 nies. Cattle do not eat it. Can this be Gi amen capillaceum, &c. Pltik. 

 Aim. p. 176. t. 34. Fig. 9..—Cusa, or Cuslia, the Sanscrit name of this 

 much venerated grass, was given to it at a very early period, by the Hm- 

 doo Philosophers, and belfeved, by Sir WiUiam Jones, to have been 

 consecrated to the memory of Cask, one of the sons ot Ram. See 

 Asiatic Researches, vol. iii. p. 490. If so, we have here a very anci- 

 ent precedent for tiie present very convenient practice of giving such 

 airbilvary names to plants, and to their families. 



5. P. ciliaris. Linn. Sp. PL ed. Willd. i. 402. 



Smooth, sub-erect, from one to two feet high- Panicle contracted, 

 linear, with the tower ramifications remote. Spikelets from six to 

 twelve-flowered; inner valvelets of the corol ciliate. 



Deli^^hts in the same soil and situation with the last described 

 species. 



Cuhns near the base procumbent, above erect for one or two 

 feet. — Leaves as in the \ast.— Panicle linear, from three to six 

 inches long, the ramifications short, those of the lower part stand at 

 some small distance, their insertions are not hany. — Calj/x from six 

 to twelve-flowered, not ciliate.— Coro/, only the inner valve ciliate. 

 — Seed as in the last. 



6. P. cylindrica. Li. 



Erect, slender, from twelve to eighteen inches high. Leaves slen- 

 der. Panicle cylindric, crowded with short, adpressed, ramous, al- 

 ternate branches ; spikelets from six to twelve^flowered ; Jimers di- 

 androus, inner valve of the corol ciliate. 



