CXLVII, GUAMINE.E. 1043 



long, linear-lanceolate, cuspidately acuminate, witli 5 strong nerves and 

 hyaline margins. Lodicules large, membranous, subquadrate or trapezi- 

 form. n. E. I. V. 7, p. 1*3 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 13 (iUOl) 

 p. 435 ; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 1184. 



Sixd: Karachi in Herb. Kew. without collector's name.'; Shikarpur, Dr. King's 

 CoUccior ! — Distrib. India (Sundribans, W. Peninsula). 



Onjza saliva, Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) p. 333. The cultivated rice-plant 

 which is the staple food of millions of the inhabitants of India. The 

 wild form is said to be indigenous in Eajputana, Sikkiin, Bengal, the 

 Khasia Hills, Central India, the Circars, and Pegu. Watt, Diet. Econ. 

 Prod. V. 5, pp. 498-654, gives an exhaustive account of the mode 

 of culture and distribution of the rice-plant in India. PI. B. I. v. 7, 

 p. 92 ; Grab. Cat. p. 235; Dalz. & Gibs. Suppl. p. 98 ; Trim. PL Cevl. 

 V. 5, p. 182 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 13 (1901) p. 435 ; 

 Prain, Beng. PI. p. 1183. 



Qo. CENTOTHECA, Desv. 



Tall leafy perennial grasses. Leaves broadly oblong or lanceolate, 

 with trabeculate veins. Spikelets 1-3-flowered, on the long spike-like 

 branches of a lax subsimple panicle, not articulate at the base, laterally 

 compressed, all perfect or 1 or more upper neuter; rhachilla slender, 

 articulate at the base and between the flowering glumes, not produced 

 beyond the uppermost. Invol. -glumes distant at their insertioQs, ovate- 

 oblong, persistent, empty, 3-5-nerved ; upjx^r invol. -gkune larger than 

 the lower; floral glumes broadly ovate, obtuse, apiculate, dorsally 

 rounded, 7-nerved, naked or the upper iisually bearing soft erect 

 at length deflexed tubercle-based spines or bristles ; palea narrow, 

 with ciliolate keels. Lodicules 0. Stamens 2-3 ; anthers linear. 

 Styles short, free ; stigmas narrow, with short hairs. Grain ovoid, 

 acute, terete, free within the glumes. — Distrib. Tropical Asia, Africa, 

 Australia ; species doubtfully 3. 



1. Centotheca lappacea, Desv. in Nouv. Bull. Soc. Pkilom. v. 2 

 (1810) p. 189, et ill .Journ. Bot. (1813) v. 1, p. 71. A stout erect 

 grass ; stem 1-3 ft. high, erect from a woody rootstock with stout 

 root-fibres. Leaves 4-10 by 1-1.| in., oblong-lanceolate, acute or 

 acuminate, more or less unequal-sided, thin, smooth, glabrous or 

 sparsely hairy, 9-11-uerved, base narrowed; sheaths usually glabrous 

 except at the mouth ; ligule a broad sometimes lacerate membrane. 

 Panicle 8-10 in. long and broad, branches slender, suberect. Spikelets 

 ^ in. long, oblong-lanceolate, acute. Invol.-glumes distant ; lower 

 jJjj—i- in. long, ovate, acute, apiculate, 3-nerved ; upper i-^ in. long, 

 ovate-oblong, acute, apiculate, 3-5-nerved ; lower floral glume ^-A in. 

 long, broadly ovate-oblong, obtuse, apiculate, 7-nerved ; upper floral 

 glume about as long as the lower, oblong, obtuse, 7-nerved, finely 

 apiculate, usually with 2 rows of tubercle-based ultimately deflexed 

 bristles close to each margin in the upper part of the glume, sometiines 

 naked ; palea pg— i ^"- ^^'^&' narrovvly lanceolate, acute, with ciliolate 

 keels. Fl. B. I. v. 7, p. 332 ; Trim. Fl. Cevl. v. 5, p. 304 ; Woodr. in 



3, y 2 



