Glumales.] 



GRAMINACE^. 



109 



tiguous margin at x. If the triangle C D D be understood to represent the next 

 series, the position of the parts will be at the three 



two scales that are usually developed 



do occupy the places D D ; while the 

 third, whenever it is superadded, is sta- 

 tioned at C. The triangle E E F indi- 

 cates by its angles the normal position of 

 the first series of stamens, which are 

 actually so situated, the stamen F which 

 is opposite the sepal A alternating with 

 the i-udimentary petals D D. The objec- 

 tion to this is, that the parts of the 

 supposed calyx or palese are not in- 

 serted upon the same plane, or truly 

 verticillate, and consequently do not 

 answer exactly to what is requu'ed in a 

 floral envelope ; and it is on this account 

 that Turpin rejects Brown's opinion, 

 gi^ing the palese the name of spathelle, A. 



and considering them bracts of a second Fig. LXXVI. 



order. Kimth entertains a somewhat different view of the nature of the floral envelopes, 

 considering the hypogyuous scales to be analogous to the ligula, and the normal state of 

 Grasses to be hexandrous. See Enumeratio, vol. i. p. 3, 4. 



Raspail, in a memoir upon the structure of Grasses, hazards a theory, that the 

 midrib of the bracts of Grasses is an axis of development in cohesion mth "the bracts, 

 and that when it separates, as in Phleum, Bromus, or CorjTiephorus, it is attempting to 

 revert to the functions of ulterior development, for which it is more especially destined. 

 Among other things, he states (Ann. des Sc. 4. 276. E) that he should not be surprised 

 one day to find some Grass in Avhich the midi-ib of the lower palea actually became a 

 new axis bearing other florets. I mention this for the sake of remarking that such a 

 case is kuo^^^l, without however admitting that it is any confirmation of Raspail's 

 \aews, which are at variance with the laws of vegetable development, for reasons which 

 are so ob^dous, as to render it altogether mmecessary to give them here. I have a mon- 

 strous Barley, the Hordeum ^Egiceras of Royle, cultivated as Wheat in the Himalayeh 

 momitains, specimens of which I communicated in 1830 to M. Kunth and others, in which 

 the midrib of the lower palea actually becomes saccate towards the apex, bearing an 

 imperfect floret, with stamens, ovary, and hypogpious scales in its cavity. The well- 

 known tendency to a special development of buds in the margins of certain leaves, in 

 Ferns, and according to the observations of Turpin, in the whole substance of certain 

 monocotyledonous leaves, leaves nothing in this fact to excite surprise or to give rise to 

 new theories ; but it is worth mentioning as the only instance upon record of a flowei"- 

 bud with sexual apparatus being developed under such circumstances. 



The embryo is here described in conformity with the views that are most commonly 

 taken of its nature ; that is to say, it is considered to consist of a dilated lenticular 

 cotyledon applied to the albumen on one side, and bearing a naked plumule on the 

 other side, next the testa. It is proper, however, to remark, that the opinion of 

 the late L. C. Richard, that the part commonly called cotyledon is a peculiar process, 

 and that the plumule is a body contained within the apparent plumule, has been adopted 

 by Nees v. Esenbeck, in his Agi'ostologia Brasiliensis, but ^vith some diff'erence. Rich- 

 ard considered the cotyledon to be a part of the radicle, to which he gave the name of 

 macropodal, in consequence of its great supposed enlargement in Grasses and some 

 other families ; Nees v. Esenbeck, on the contrary, seems to entertain the opinion that 

 this cotyledon is a special organ, for which he retains Richard's name of hypoblastus, 

 although he does not adopt the view that botanist took of its nature. But I think if we 

 consider the improbability of any special organ being proxnded for Grasses, which is not 

 found elsewhere, and if we consider how nearly alike are the embryos of Grasses and 

 certain Arumworts, in which the plumule lies within a cleft of the cotyledon, it is impossi- 

 ble to doubt the identity of the iaypoblastus of Richard and Nees v. Esenbeck, and the 

 cotyledon of other Monocotyledons. Indeed, the latter himself appears, in one place, 

 to hesitate about the accuracy of distinguishing them, when he says (p. 9), *' Turn vero 

 hypoblastus pars qusedam habenda est cotyledoni analoga, magisque ad interiora seminis 

 quam ad externam corculi evolutionem spectans." 



In some Grasses a por-tion of the inflorescence assmnes a nearly bony texture. " This 

 change takes place in Coix, in the involucre ; in Chionachue and Sclerachne, in the outer 

 valve of the glume of the female locusta ; and in Tripsacum, in the rachis of the spike." 

 Bennett in Horsfield's Plantce Javanicce, p. 19 ; where the systematic reader will find^some 



