thiandria digynia^ lai 



It would perhaps not be incorrect to consider with Schreber the 

 genus Panicum as uniformly possessing a two valved, two flowered 

 taljx; the valves of the calyx unequal ; one very small ; one of the 

 flowers hermaplirodite, the other masculine or neuter ; the valve of 

 tk hermaphrodite flower cartilat^inous ; the interior valve of the neu- 

 tral floret generally small and membranous, the exterior resembling 

 the calyx. 



From the observations in Rees' Cycloppedia, under the article Pani* 

 cum, it appears that the most eminent Botanists in Europe are adopting 

 ochreber^s view of this genus. It may, however, yet be observed, 

 that the valves of the fertile floret are fnvariably carti1ao;inous, almost 

 horny; that the interior valve of the neutral floret, wliether small or 

 large, is thin, membranous and very delicate, while tlie interior or 

 third valve of the calyx, (as usually understood), is exactly similar iu 

 substance, texture, colour, nerves, and pubescence to the exterior 

 valve. In considering the genus as two flowered, we are obliged not 

 only to view the flowers as dissimilar, but the valves of the sterile 

 floret as totally unlike each other in structure and substance. I have 

 therefore, in my descriptions, followed the arrangement of Linneeus, 

 jonsidering the calyx as three valved, and tlie valve of the sterile 

 noret as the rudiment of an 'mperfect flower. Among our species the 

 ^- hians alone appears to corroborate the opinion of Schreber. la 

 that species, the valve of the neutral floret becomes conspicuously 

 large, forming a distinct floret with the inner valve of the calyx, but 

 <^ntaming not even the rudiment of a stamen. 



>■ 



DIGITARIA. 



Splm filiformes, uriila- I Spikes filiform, bearing 

 tmfiorse. Calyx 2.val their flowers on one side. 

 ^is, uniflorus, valvis in- C<z/?/^ 2 valved, one flow- 

 *qualibus. ^ Corulla S- | ered, valves Unequal. Co- 

 ^alvis, valvis sequalibus. rolla 3 valved, valves e 



S^NGUINAUS 



qual 



p. spicis patentibus ; | Spikes expanding ; 

 spiculjs bifioris, una ses- spikelets 2 flowered, ouq 



s'« ; culmo decumbente, sessile ; stem decumbent, 

 i^epente. E. r 



Jlich. 1. p. 45, 



panicum sanguinale, ."sp. pi. p. 3A 



°ynthensma praecox, Walt. p. 76 

 *^'^yton, p. 12. 



eeping 



Sp. pi. p. 342. 



^ 



icukTff f u"^^- ^^'"^ *~^ ^^^* ^°"g^ (tccmnbent anil assurgent, gen 

 ^'^'^late, taking root rendily at the *jomt., tcrolo, sm-.^tli. t^ 



♦ 



