427 
Orper CXLII. GRAMINEA, 
Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, in spikelets, which 
consist of 3 or more (rarely 2 or 1) chaff-like glumes (scales 
or bracts), which are arranged alternately on opposite sides of 
the spikelet, and are convex outwardly. Two (sometimes 1 or 
3) lowest glumes empty, often differently shaped from the 
others, the succeeding or flowering glumes (lower palex of 
many authors) each enclosing a small scale (palea). Within 
the palea, or between it and the flowering glume, is the real 
flower, consisting of 2, rarely 3 or 6, microscopic scales, to- 
gether with 3, rarely 1, 2 or 6 stamens, and 1 ovary. Scales 
(lodicules or squamules of authors) generally 2 and lateral. 
Stamens with slender filaments and linear, rarely oblong, 
2-celled, versatile anthers. Ovary 1-celled ; style divided into 
2-3 long or short feathery stigmas, rarely simple; ovule 1, 
erect. Fruit a 1-seeded caryopsis (or grain), free or often 
adherent to the palea or to both the palea and flowering glume, 
both or one of which may be hardened; pericarp very thin, 
usually closely adherent to the seed. Seed with a lateral 
furrow; testa extremely thin, adherent to the farinaceous al- 
bumen and (usually equally thin) pericarp; embryo minute, 
at the base of the albumen.—The Grasses are annual or 
perennial herbs, rarely arborescent, as the Bamboo, with cylin- 
dric or compressed, never 3-angled, stems (culms), which are 
jointed, and almost invariably hollow except at the nodes. 
Leaves alternate, entire, parallel-veined, usually long and 
narrow, sheathing at the base; sheathing part distinct from 
the blade, split to its junction with the culm, and usually pro- 
vided with a membranous ring or appendage where the blade 
joms it. Spikelets generally arranged in terminal spikes, 
racemes or panicles. 
The study of the great Order of Grasses, the most widely distributed of 
all flowering plants, and most useful to man, has occupied the attention of 
many able botanists, who are far from agreed as to the exact nature of 
their floral envelopes; that is to say, as to what organs of other plants 
they are the counterparts. The Cape genera not having been worked up 
by Dr. Harvey, are here supplied by his and my friend Colonel Munro, 
the only living botanist who is familiar with this difficult Order. The 
arrangement, limitation, and characters of the tribes and subtribes are also 
Colonel Munro’s, and, being here for the first time published, they will be 
studied by botanists with great interest. In adopting for the floral enve- 
lopes the terms Flowering glumes, Palea, etc., Colonel Munro follows the 
course adopted in the Colonial Floras, but is by no means satisfied that 
they express truly the relationship of these organs, and is decidedly of 
opinion that the term lower palea should replace that of flowering glume. 
The ordinal characters I have taken from Mr, Bentham’s ‘ Flora Hong- 
kongensis.’—J. D. H. 
