ORYZE^. 



169 



with the beak 5-8 mm. long, second 7-nerved; floret ellipsoidal, 5 



mm. long, shining, hard, of a dull ivory 



color. 



Mexico, PringU 3795. Also found in 

 Cuba, Trinidad, Central America to 

 Brazil. 



Tribe VI.— ORYZE^. 



Spikelets laterally compressed, with one 

 terminal perfect or unisexual flower, en- 

 closed by a floral glume and palea, the lat- 

 ter usually 1-nerved. Empty glumes two 

 or more, very seldom numerous. Stamens 

 frequently six. Stigmas more or less elon- 

 gated. Grain usually with a small embryo 

 and long, linear hilum. 



The close affinity of Oryzeae and Pha- Fig. %\.— Oli/r<i. latifolia. 



1 . T 1 J./ 1 • J mi Pistillate spikelet. 



larideae has oiten been recognized. The 



essential character of both resides in having the scale immedi- 

 ately under tlie single terminal perfect flower keeled or 1-nerved, 

 like the glumes, so as to make it uncertain whether it is a 

 glume or palea, — that is, whether it is attached to the rachis or 

 primary axis of the spikelet, or to a secondary or floral axis reduced 

 to a mere point. Bentham considers the scale in question a floral 

 glume, and considers the palea as deficient. With this view the 

 Oryzeas have 2-4 or rarely 3 glumes, all above the articulation of 

 the pedicel, and the Phalarideae 4-6 or rarely 5 glumes, th(^ lowest 

 pair persistent below the articulation of tlie rachilla. 



A. Plants monoecious; anthers six or more. 



a. Spikes terminal and axillary, the former pedunculate and 



staminate, the latter sessile 35 



a. Inflorescence paniculate {b) 



b. Spikelets in pairs at each node of the branches of the pan- 

 icle, one sessile and pistillate, the other smaller pedicel- 

 late and staminate; floral glume linear-oblong. . 36 



