Zea. MONOFXiA triandria. 567 



•finger, every part most closely set with stamens and most 

 fine white filaments. Spathes of the male anient, three or 

 more, one, the largest, inserted at its base, a second and small- 

 er a little above the middle, and a third still smaller near the 

 apex, and generally two very small ones at the apex ; they 

 all drop off' soon after the flowers expand. Calyx perianth 

 proper. The tiliunents that are intermixed with the stamen 

 are so minute that I cannot assign any number to any num- 

 ber of filaments, their extremities are from two to three-cleft. 

 Corol none. Filaments exceedingly numerous, short, sim- 

 ple, from two to three-cleft, inserted without order. Anthers 

 one to each single filament or sub-division, linear, yellow, 

 with green tops, which makes the anient look green, cadu- 

 cous, leaving a naked withered receptacle. Female ament 

 about as long and as thick as the male. Spathe of the fe- 

 male ament single, leaf-like, its sheath is so long as to involve 

 both anients. Calyx permanent, and consisting of most fine 

 capillary filaments. Pw/i7 as in the family. Seed oblong, 

 they are carried about with the wind like the seeds of the 

 thistle by means of the permanent dow ny filiform calyx ; but 

 there are many clubbed bodies intermixed with the female 

 flowers, these also have a calyx or involucre of the finest fi- 

 laments like that of the female flowers. Elephants are fond 

 of it ; the leaves are used for thatch, by the natives. 



2. T. angustifolia. Willd. iv. 



Leaves semi-cylindric, acute, the length of the scape. 

 Male nndjemnle aments rather remote. 



T. minor. Curt. Flor. Lond. t. 169. 



Beny. Kam Hogla. 



Found in similar places with the former : flowerinff time 

 also the same, but this is a smaller and much rarer plant. 



ZEA. Schreb.gen. N. 1403. 

 Male in distinct spikes. Calyx ; glume two-flowered, awn- 



