301 



ists, in combination with different bases, in Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats, Maize, 

 Millet, and Rice. Ibid. 172. The Arundo arenaria is an invaluable species 

 for keeping together the blowing sands of the sea-coast, by its creeping suck- 

 ers and tough entangled roots. It is employed in the Hebrides for many eco- 

 nomical purposes, being made into ropes for various uses, mats for pack-sad- 

 dles, bags, hats, &c. Ibid. 6. 155. Some of the Reeds of Brazil, called Ta- 

 quarussa, grow from 30 to 40 feet high, with a diameter of six inches ; they 

 form thorny impenetrable thickets, and are exceedingly grateful to hunters ; for, 

 on cutting off such a reed below the joint, the stem of the younger shoots is 

 found to be full of a cool pleasant liquid, which immediately quenches the most 

 burning thirst. Pr. Max. Trav. 81. The roasted leaves of Andropogon 

 Schacnanthus are used in India, in infusion, as an excellent stomachic. An es- 

 sential oil of a pleasant taste is extracted from the leaves in the Moluccas ; and 

 the Javanese esteem the plant much as a mild aromatic and stimulant. 

 Ainslie, 2. 58. This is the Grass oil of Nemaur, called in India Ivarancusa, 

 and described in Breivsler's Journal, 9. 333. Many others, such as Andropo- 

 gon citratum and nardus, and Anthoxanthum odoratum, partake in the same 

 qualities. The gluten of Wheat yields the two chemical principles called glia- 

 dine and zimome. Ann. of Phil. no. 89. p. 390. M. Decandolle truly re- 

 marks, that the dangerous effects of the ergot of Corn is no exception to the 

 generally wholesome properties of the order, because in this the whole grain is 

 in a state of disease. The ergot of Rye has been lately found to exercise a 

 decidedly powerful stimulant effect upon the uterus, on which account it is 

 now frequently and successfully employed by European practitioners in cases 

 of difficult parturition. The ergot of Maize is, according to M. Roulin, very 

 common in Colombia, and the use of it is attended with a shedding of the hair, 

 and even the teeth, of both man and beast. MuleS fed on it lose their hoofs, 

 and fowls lay eggs without shell. Its action upon the uterus is as powerful as 

 that of the Rye ergot, or perhaps more so. Ann. des Sc. 19. 279. The 

 country name of the Maize thus affected is Mais peladero. The best fodder 

 Grasses of Europe are usually dwarf species, or at least such as do not rise 

 more than 3 or 4 feet above the ground, and of these the larger kinds are apt 

 to become hard and wiry ; the most esteemed are Lolium perenne, Phleum, and 

 Festuca pratense, Cynosurus cristatus, and various species of Poa and dwarf 

 Festuca, to which should be added Anthoxanthum odoratum for its fragrance. 

 But the fodder Grasses of Brazil are of far more gigantic stature, and perfectly 

 tender and delicate. We learn from Nees von Esenbeck, that the Caapim de 

 Angola of Brazil, Panicum spectabile, grows 6 or 7 feet high; while other 

 equally gigantic species constitute the field crops on the banks of the Amazon. 

 Examples. It is no easy matter to decide upon the arrangement of Grasses 

 which is most likely to be eventually adopted, when we find such men as 

 Brown, Kunth, Palisot, Link, and Trinius, advocating different methods ; and 

 it would be quite bej^ond mypurpose to give all of them here. Upon the whole, 

 the following, which is that employed by Nees v. Esenbeck in his excellent ac- 

 count of the Grasses of Brazil, has the best prospect of becoming established 

 among botanists : 



1. Paniceae, Kunth. (Panicum, Paspalus, Cenchrus.) 



2. Olyreas, Kunth. (Luziola, Pharus, Olyra.) 



3. Saccharinese, Kunth. Saccharum, Andropogon, Anthistiria.) 



4. Stipeae, Kunth. (Stipa, Chaetaria.) 



5. Agrosteae, Kunth. (Phalaris, Vilfa, Agrostis, Spartina.) 



6. Chlorideae, Kunth. (Pappophorum, Chloris, Eleusine.) 



7. Hordeaceae, Kunth. (Lolium, Triticum, Secale.) 



8. Festucaceae, Kunth. 



