14 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOEURNENSIS. 



5. Truncated, (trimcata), when the upper part terminates in a 



transverse line. 



6. Pointed, (acuta), that has a short acute point. 



7. Acuminated, (acuminata), that has a long projecting point. 



8. Very short, (decurrens), that is hardly visible, and runs down 



the side of the vagina. 



The stipules often afford a good character of distinction. I have 

 raised a great many species of different grasses from seed, under 

 different circumstances, as to soil and situation, with a view to 

 obtain varieties from them. I found many of the plants thus 

 raised, to vary from the parent, in the number of the florets, in 

 the presence or want of hairs on the surface, and sometimes, 

 though rarely, in the awns ; but in no instance did the form of the 

 stipula or sheath-scale vary : being thus constant, it may be 

 depended on. 



IV. 

 Varieties of the Flower. 



The curious structure of the flowers of grasses, and a consider- 

 ation of their important office, that of forming the seed, is sufficient 

 to attract notice or regard, independent of the great use of which 

 a knowledge of their structure is, in distinguishing with certainty 

 the several species and varieties. 



Inflorescence, or the manner in which the flowers of grasses are 

 supported and disposed on the culms, affords the most obvious cha- 

 racters of distinction : it is of two kinds, the spike and the panicle. 



The spike, (spica), is a number of flowers without footstalks, 

 that closely surround one principal, simple, straight culm. (See 

 Pedunculus.) 



1. Glomerata, (glomerata), when the spike consists of a spherical 



collection of flowers, as in Sesleria carulea. 



2. Verticillated (verticil lata), when the flowers, leaving naked 



interstices on the spike, appear on that account to be placed 

 in whirls, as in Panicum verticillatum. 



3. One-rowed, (secunda), when the flowers are arranged on one 



side, as in Nardiis stricla. 



4. Cylindrical, (cyliiidrica), when the spike is equally covered 



with flowers. Panicum viride. 



5. Linear, (linearis), that is, slender, and of equal thickness, as 



in Cynosorus erucccformis. 



