290 



Tribe II. GLUMACEiE. 



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

 room of which the floral envelopes are formed by imbricated bracteae. The pa- 

 les 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 con- 

 sidered to approach. The same may be said of the hypogynous setae of Cype- 

 racea?, which, although probably of the nature of a perianthium, exist in so ru- 

 dimentary a state as not to form a real exception to the character of Glumaceae 

 Restiaceaa and Palms connect Petaloideous Monocotyledons with Glumacese ; 

 the former by approaching Cyperacere, the latter Grasses. 



LIST OF THE ORDERS 



261. Grarmneee. 262. Cyperaceee 



CCLXI GRAMINEiE The Grass Tribe 



Gbamina, Jiuss. Gen. 28. (1789).— GraminejE, R. Brown Prodr. 168. (1810) ; Palisotde Beauv. 

 Agrostog. (1812) ; Kunth in Mem. Mus. 2. 62. (1815) ; Id. in N. G. et Sp. Humb. et Bonpl. 

 1. 84. (1815) ; Turpin in Mem. Mus. 5. 426. (1819) ; Trinius Fundam. Agrostol. (1820) ; 

 Agardh Aphor. 143. (1823); Kunth Synops. 1. 163. (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. 6. 224. 384. (1825), 7. 335. 

 (1826); Link Hnrtus Botanicus,l. (1827); Lindl. Synops. 293.(1829); A'ees v. Esenbeck 

 Agrostog. Brasil. (1S29.) 



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. 



Essential Character.— Flowers usually monoclinous, sometimes moncecious or polyga 

 rnous ; consisting- of imbricated bracteae, of which the most exterior are called glumes, the in- 

 terior immediately enclosing the stamens paleec, and the innermost at the base of the ovarium 

 scales. Glumes usually 2, alternate; sometimes single, most commonly unequal. Palece 2, 

 ;ilternate ; the lower or exterior simple, the upper or interior composed of 2 united by their con- 

 tiguous 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 palere, and next the lower of them ; 

 either distinct or united. Stamens hypogynous, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or more, 1 of which alternates 

 with the 2 hypogynous scales, and is therefore next the lower pa)ea;a?)</jers versatile. Ovarium 

 simple ; styles 2, very rarely 1 or 3 ; stigmas feathery or hairy. Pcricarpium usually undistin- 

 guishalile from the seed, membranous. Albumen farinaceous; embryo lying on one side of the 

 albumen, at the base, lenticular, with a broad cotyledon and a developed plumula; and occa- 

 sionally, but very rarely, with a second cotyledon on the outside of the plumula, and alternate 

 with the usual cotyledon. —Rhixoma fibrous or bulbous. Culms cylindrical, fistular, closed at 

 the joints, covered with a coat of silex. Leaves alternate, with a split sheath. Flowers in lit- 

 tle spikes called locustw, arranged in a spiked, racemed, or paniclcd manner. 



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

 zation than any other among flowering plants, and is perhaps that of which the 

 organization is to this <l,»y least understood, although it is among the most com- 



