RctlbceUio, s^iiandrii »igtnia.' 



S53 



feet high. — Leaves numerous, very hairy, stiff and sharp Spikes 



terminal, and axillary, peduncled, several together, snjall, compress- 

 ed, from half an inch to an inch long. — Paniclen as ni the former. 

 Rachis jointed, much waved, and excavated as in Rotlboellia. — 

 I lowers from four to ten of each sort, their situation exactly as in the 

 last species^ vjz. the hermaphrodite occupy the forepart, while the 

 male, or neuter are placed on the sides, the former are globular, and 

 the latter lanceolate. 



Hekmaphrodite flowers. Ca/j/ar one-flowered, two-valv- 

 ed, exterior valve round or rigid, and very rugose ; inner valve less 

 rigid. — Carol two-valved, membranaqeous. — Stamens three. — Sti/!es 

 two. 



Male or neuter flowers. Cal^x two-valved, one-dowered. 

 — 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. Cali/x one-flowered, corol three-valved. 



Beng. Buksha. 



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, creeping 

 rear the principal root for a foot or more, the remaining part from 

 one to two, or even three feet, erect. — Leaves alternate, bifarious, 

 approximate, short, spreading, ensiform, smooth.— S/tecrMs shorter 

 than the joints of the culm, smooth.— S/^Vces axillary, solitary or in 

 pairs, with a solitary terminal one, subulate, three-sided, smooth, 

 short-peduncled, the peduncles with generally a part of the sjMkes 

 hid in the sheaths of the leaves; general length from two to three 

 inches. — Fhwers opposite, in general all, or the greatest part lierma- 



