OPHIURUS. 99 
having an incomplete central vein; besides, this hypothesis is 
against the direction of the development of the glumes, the 
outer of which Mr. Brown states to be most persistent. Is the 
spike really conjugate? else how do the spiculz flowers which 
are opposite, face the lines on the rachis. 
The apex of the spike seems to point out, that the structure 
is as in Hemarthria, the pedicel of the second flower being 
incorporated with the rachis. 
If this is the case, it differs from Hemarthria in having 
the pedicellate flower hermaphrodite. 
he marked articulation below both flowers is an objection 
to this, although there isa tendency to confluence in He- 
marthria in that part of the spike in which the joints are 1- 
spiculate, the other flower is to be considered as completely 
abortive, and there is no tendency as there is above,in the 
adnate pedicel to become produced beyond the next articula- 
tion. 
Even with this explanation, the length of the spore amount- 
ing almost the continued superposition of the spiculz, is re- 
markable. 
Two species, or perhaps more, exist under this head, two 
among the grasses given by Wight, in the one the stature is 
small, in the other large, spikes axillary, it is curious that 
in this, both spiculz do not project equally when dry as they 
do in the former, i£ appearing to be a general rule that the 
upper spicule does so most. 
Ophiurus, Spica articulata articulis unifloris, floribus alternis 
immersis. Gluma exterior mutica cartilaginea, plana con- 
vexiuscula, interior hyalina submembranacea, gd ced 
mutica. 
Fl. 2 exterior masculus. Palez hyaline 2, mutice. Exterior 
multo major bivenia! interior planiuscula, magna involuta 
bivenia. Lodiculz parve. Fl. inter hermaphrod. Palez 2 
mutiz, hyaline; exter. bivenia! concava, inter. planiuscula 
margine involutis bivenia. - 
