J40 GRAMINEAL. [chap. 



with a few joints below, and sheathing leaves : the sheath 

 of the leaf split down in front : the scale, called a ligule, 

 at the base of the blade of the leaf, where it is given off 

 from the sheath ; it is usually membranous, short or long, 

 blunt or acute : the fruit commonly regarded as a seed, and 

 technically distinguished as a Catyopsis. It consists of a 

 thin pericarp closely adhering to the solitary seed. It often 

 Ik. I " 



Fig. 224. Longitudinal section through 

 a grain of Wheat, showing the 

 oblique embryo at the base of copious 

 albumen. 



Fig. 225. Longitudinal and transverse 

 sections of the embryo of Wheat : 

 c cotyledon ; // plumule ; r radicle. 



happens that the pale becom-es adherent to the caiyopsis 

 after flowering, and sometimes, also, the flowering glume. 

 Wh^ this is the case in corn-producing species, it is 

 removed by grinding, as in the case of Barley and Oats. 

 In Wheat and Indian Corn the caryopsis is free, that is, 

 it is not adherent to the pale. 



The Grass Family includes probably from 3,000 to 4,000 

 species. Amongst these are several affording large fari- 

 naceous seeds, distinguished as Cereals or Corn-grasses, 

 which are of primary importance to the human race, and 

 have been cultivated from the remotest antiquity. 



Indian genera, including food-producing species, are 

 printed in small capitals in the above Hst. To these may 

 be added the Oat {Avaia) and Rye {Secale) of cool 

 countries. 



Rice is stated to furnish a larger proportion of food than 

 any othei smgle species 



I 



