704 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Phalaris canariensis, Canary-grass, is cultivated for its grain, which is 

 employed as a food for birds, under the name of canary seed. Its straw is 

 also valued as fodder for horses. 



Poa abyssinica is an Abyssinian corn plant, known under the name of Tetf. 

 The grains are sometimes employed in the preparation of Bouza or MiUet- 

 beer. (See Eleiisine.) 



Saccharum offlcinarum is the Common Sugai'-cane, so extensively used 

 for the extraction of Cane-sugar. Molasses or Golden Syrup is the drainings 

 from raw sugar, and treacle the thick juice which has drained from refined 

 sugar in the sugar-moulds. Caramel is burnt sugar. Sugar-candy, pulled 

 sugar, barley-sugar, hard-bake, tix., are all familiar preparations of sugar. 

 By the distillation of the fermented liquid of treacle or molasses rum is 

 obtained. 



Secale cereale. Common Rye, is much cultivated in the northern parts of 

 the world for its grains, which are extensively employed for making bread. 

 ■Rye bread retains its freshness for a much longer time than wheaten bread. 

 Quass or Rye Beer is a favourite drink in Russia. Rye is also used by the 

 distillers. When roasted it has been employed as a substitute for coffee. 

 Rye is subject to a disease called Ergot, produced by the attack of a fungus 

 (see Claviceps), when its grains assume an elongated and curved form. The 

 diseased grains are conunonly known as Ergot of Rye or Spurred Rye, which 

 in certain doses is poisonous to man and other animals. Medicinally, ergot 

 is given to excite uterine contractions in labour, and for other purposes. 



Setaria.—S. germanicais the source of German Millet, and S. italica of 

 Italian Millet. The latter is also much used in India. The millets are 

 largely used as food. 



Stipa. — >Si. tenacissima or Lygeum spartum, a Spanish grass, is known under 

 the name of esparto ; this has been lately highly recommended as a substi- 

 tute for rags in paper-making. The imports of Esparto in 1865 were 51 ,522 

 tons. Esparto is largely used in Spain for making matting, card baskets, 

 &c., and has been so employed since the time of the Phcsnieians, who are 

 also said to have used it extensively for like purposes. The grain of S. 

 pennata, Feather-grass, is stated to be very nutritious. 



TrUicum.—T. viilgare is the Common Wheat.— A great many varieties of 

 Triticum are cultivated, as T. oestivum, spring or Summer Wheat; T.hy- 

 bernum, Winter Wheat; T. compositum, Egyi)tian Wheat, or Many-eared 

 Wheat ; T. Spelta, Spelt ; T. polonicum, Polish Wheat, &c. The grains are 

 enormously used in this and some other countries for making bread, and 

 for their starch. Various nutritious foods are also prepared from wheat 

 grains, as Semolina, Soujee, Manna Croup, Vermicelli, Maccaroui, Cagliari 

 or Italian Paste, &c. 



Zea Mays is the Indian Com or Maize Plant. The gi-ain is extensively 

 used in warm countries. It is the most fattening of all the cereals, but it 

 frequently produces dian-hoea. T]ie roasted cobs or ears are sold in India, 

 as chestnuts similarly treated are in this country. The immature ears are 

 sometimes eatfu as a vegetable. Maize meal is sold under the name of 

 polenta, and the fine flour as maizena, both of which are much used in this 

 country and elsewhere. In South America a kind of beer, called Chica or Maize 

 Beer, is made from the grain, and is extensively used. In Western Africa, a 

 favourite fermented beverage is also prepared from Maize, called pitto or pete. 



Zizania aquatica yields a serviceable grain known as Canada Rice or 

 Swamp Rice. 



Artificial Analysis of the Natural Orders of MoNocoTyLEDONi':s. 

 Modified from Lindley. 



(The Numbers refer to the Orders as previously described.) 



Sub-class I. Bictyogcnce. 

 A. Ovary inferior. 



Flowers unisexual Dhscoreacece. 242. 



