732 GRAMINACE. 
neighbouring coast from encroachments of the sea. (See also 
Properties and Uses of the Gramiacez.) 
Carex.—The creeping stems of C. arenaria and some allied species have 
been used medicinally as substitutes for sarsaparilla, under the name of 
German Sarsaparilla.—C. hirta, C. precox, and others, are known in different 
districts under the name of ‘Carnation Grasses.’ They have erroneously 
been supposed to cause the disease termed ‘ Rot’ in sheep. 
Cyperus.—The rhizomes, tubers, or corms of C. longus, C. rotundus, C. 
pertenuis, and C. esculentus, have been employed in medicine, and regarded 
as aromatic, tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, and astringent. The corms or 
tubers of C, esculentus are, under the name of Chufa or Earth Almonds, used 
tor food in the South of Europe, more especially in Spain, and when roasted 
have been proposed as a substitute for coffee and cocoa. They are known 
by the French as Souchet Comestible (Rush Nut). Their chief use in hot 
European climates is for making an orgeat, a refreshing acid drink in hot 
weather. The boiled corms of C. bulbosus are also edible, and are said to 
taste like potatoes.—C. teztilis is used for making ropes, &c., in India.—C, 
tegetiformis is much used in China for making hats, matting, &c. 
Eriophorum.—The species of this genus are commonly known under the 
name of Cotton-grasses, from their fruits being surrounded by cottony or 
downy hairs. These hairs are sometimes used for stuffing cushions, &c. 
‘Lheir leaves are reputed to possess astringent properties, 
Papyrus.—P. nilotica or P. wgyptiaca, the Bulrush of the Nile and the 
Paper Reed of the ancients, is the true Papyrus of the Egyptians, and the 
one commonly grown in botanical gardens under that name is the Syrian 
or Sicilian species (P. syriaca or P. “siciliana). The plant is celebrated on 
account of the soft cellular tissue contained in its stems having been in com- 
nion use by the ancients for making a kind of paper. Thesesheets of papyrus 
paper are remarkable for their durability. The Papyrus was also used for 
making ropes, boats, mats, &c. The Sicilian species, P. siciliana, has like- 
wise been employed ‘for making paper.—P. corymbosus is extensively used 
in India for the manufacture of the celebrated Indian matting. 
Scirpus.—Various species of this genus, as S. lacustris and 8S. Taber- 
nemontana, &c., are much employed, like the true Rushes, for mats, 
chair-bottoms, baskets, &c., and also by coopers for filling up the intervals 
in the seams of casks. They are commonly known as Club-rushes or Bul- 
rushes. The root of S. lacustris was formerly used as an astringent and 
diuretic. 
Order 2, GRAMINACEH, the Grass Order.—Character.— 
Herbs, shrubs, or arborescent plants, with round, commonly 
hollow (fig. 201), jointed stems. Leaves alternate, with 
parallel veins and split sheaths (figs. 374, g, and 1105), and with 
a ligule at the base of the lamina (fig. 374, lig). Flowers her- 
maphrodite or unisexual, arranged in spiked (jig. 418), panicled 
( fig. 419), or racemose locustze ; or solitary. No true perianth, 
its place being supplied by imbricate bracts, of which there are 
commonly 2,-called glwmes, or rarely 1; these glumes are placed 
at the base of the solitary flower, or at the base of each locusta 
(figs. 405 and 1106, gl, gl, and 1107, ge, gi). Occasionally the 
glumes are altogether absent. Each flower is also usually fur- 
nished with two other alternate bracts (palex) (figs. 1107, pe, 
pi.), (or sometimes the inner palea pi is wanting), the outer 
palea 1s frequently termed the flowering glume; and 2 or 3 
hypogynous scales (lodiculx, squamulex, or glumellules) ( figs. 1106, 
