292 



Tribe II. GLUMACE^. 



These are distinctly characterised by the want of a true perianthium, in the 

 room of which the floral envelopes are formed by imbricated bracteee. The 

 paleffi of Grasses approach the nature of a calyx ; but as they do not 

 originate from the same plane, they cannot, practically, be confounded with 

 a calyx, however near such an organ they may, upon theoretical principles, 

 be considered to approach. The same may be said of the hypogynous setse 

 of Cyperaceae, which, although probably of the nature of a perianthium, exist 

 in so rudimentary a state as not to form a real exception to the character of 

 Glumacese. Restiacece and Palms connect Petaloideous Monocotyledons 

 with Glumacese ; the former by approaching Cyperacese, the latter Grasses. 



LIST OF THE ORDERS. 



261. GraminesB. | 262. Cyperaceae. 



CCLXI. GRAMINE^. The Grass Tribe. 



Gramina, Juss. Gen. 28. 0780). — Gramine^, R. Brown Prodr. 1C8. (1810); Palisot 

 de Beanv. Agrostog. (1812); Kunth in Mim. Mus. 2. fi2. (1815) ; Id. in N. G. et Sp. 

 Ilumb. et Bonpl. 1. 84.(1815); Tttrpin in Mtm. Mua. 5. 42U. (1819); Trinius 

 Fundam. Agrostol. (1820); Agardh Aphor. 143. (1823); Kunlh Synops. 1. 1G3. 

 (1823); Dumortier Agrost. Belg. (1823) ; Trinius Diss, de Gram. Unifl. et Sesquif. 

 (1824) ; De la Harpe in Ann. Sc. 5. 335. 6. 21. (1825) ; Raspail in Ann. des Sc 4. 

 271. 422. 5. 287. 433. (!. 224. 384. (1825), 7. 335. (182C) ; Link Ilortus Bolanicus, 

 1. (1827) ; Lindl. Synops. 293. (1829) ; Nees v. Esenheck Agrostog. Brusil. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Glumaceous monocotyledons, with cylindrical stems, slit 

 leaf-sheaths, and a lenticular embryo lying on the outside of the albumen, 

 with a naked plumula. 



Anomalies. 



EssENTiAi, Character. — Flowers usually hermaphrodite, sometimes monoecious or 

 polygamous ; consisting of imbricated bracteae, of which the most exterior are called glumes^ 

 the interior immediately enclosing the stamens palew, and the innermost at the base of the 

 ovarium scales. Glumes usually 2, alternate ; sometimes single, most commonly tmequal. 

 PalecB 2, alternate ; the lower or exterior simple, the upper or interior composed of 2 united 

 by their contiguous margins, and usually with 2 keels, together forming a kind of dislocated 

 calyx. Scales 2 or 3, sometimes wanting ; if 2, collateral, alternate with the paleae, and 

 next the lower of them ; either distinct or united. Stamens hypogynous, 1, 2, 3, 4, C, 

 or more, 1 of which alternates with the 2 hypogynous scales, and is therefore next the 

 lower palea ; anthers versatile. Ovarium simple ; styles 2, very rarely 1 or 3 ; stigmas fea- 

 thery or hairy. Pericarpium usually undistinguishaFjle from the seed, membranous. Albu. 

 men farinaceous ; embryo lying on one side of the albumen at the base, lenticular, with a 

 broad cotyledon and a developed plumula ; and occasionally, but very rarely, with a second 



cotyledon on the outside of the plumula, and alternate with the usual cotyledon Rhizoma 



fibrous or bulbous. Culms cylindrical, fistular, closed at the joints, covered with a coat of 

 silex. Leaves alternate, with a split sheath. Flowers in little spikes called locustce, arranged 

 in a spiked, racemed, or panicled manner. 



Affinities. This family is one which offers more singularities in its 



