GLUMACEiE. 



695 



and C. esculentus, were formerly employed in medicine, and regarded as 

 aromatic tonics, diaphoretics, and astringents. The corms of C. esculentus 

 are also used as food in the South of Europe, and when roasted, have been 

 proposed as a substitute for coffee and cocoa. The boiled corms of C. buibosus 

 are also edible, Royle says that they taste like potatoes. C. textilis is used for 

 making ropes, &c., in India. 



Papyrus.— P. antiquorum appears to be the Bulrush of the Nile. It is ce- 

 lebrated on account of the soft cellular substance in the interior of its stems, 

 having been in common use by the ancients for making a kind of paper. The 

 sheets of papyrus paper are remarkable for their durability. The Papyrus 

 was also used for making ropes, boats, mats, &c. A Sicilian species, P. sicula 

 has likewise been employed for making paper. P. corymbosus is extensively 

 used in India for the manufacture of the celebrated ludlan matting. 



Natural Order 285. — Graminace^. — The Grass Order {figs. 

 1080— 1086).— Herbs {fig. 1080), shrubs, or arborescent plants, 

 with round, commonly hollow {fig. 187), jointed stems. Leaves 



Fig. 1080. 



Pi^. 1081. 



Fig. 1080. A portion of the stem of the Cat' s-tail Grass {PhUum pratense), 

 bearing a leaf with parallel veins, and a split sheath Fig. 1081. Dia- 

 gram of a spikelet of an Oat {Avena). (From Maout). gl, gl. two glumes, 

 enclosing two perfect flowers, and one, a, abortive, h. the outer 

 palea. &, 6. the inner palea, which seems to be formed of two united, p, 

 p. two scales (squamulae or glumeUules), the doited curved line on the right 



marks the position of a third abortive scale, e. Stamens, c. Ovary 



Fig. 1082. A spikelet of the Oat {Avena sativa). ge. outer glume, gi. 

 inner glume, pe. outer palea of the fertile flower, pi. inner palea of the 

 «ame. e. Stamens, o. Ovary, /a, and a, abortive flowers. 

 Y Y 4 



