512 GRAMINACEAE. [ Zea. 
1. S. officinarum, [. — Stems erect, stout and solid, 6—12 ft. high. 
Leaves 1’ broad or more, very rough at the edges. Panicle compound 
spreading, 1—3 ft. long, of a gray silvery color from the long hairs sur- 
eectee the spikelets. Spikelets much shorter than the hairs, all sessile 
or one of each pair shortly pediceilate; the outer glumes pointed, about 
2” long. 
gar-Cane was found at sn upatolowd of the Islands in possession of the natives, 
s me ith al a ibes of 
with sakes it by the as W 1 Polynesian tri Maoli race — 
«Ko», «To» in Tahiti and ps a cag paid nore n Aneitum he varieties now cul- 
tivated are rt the original nati to w have been ad hinese 
«Ko pake», probably identical with the W. Indian Creole, and the «Tahitian» cane; another 
white cane which is extensively raised on 1 — ' «Keni rd r3) ane — i 
of doubtful origin nters distinguish about a doze ve varieties, of which t 
«Uala», «Kokea», «Oliana», «Lahi» have a pale yellow or gr rind, «Honuaula», 
« aa>, «Palani» are purple, and the «Ainakea», «Manulele», «Akilolo», «Laukono» 
others belon the variegated or ribbon canes. According to locality preference is given 
to one or ano he m , white and enish canes flouri est low pro- 
er: ore tender s ‘ 
tected grounds, while the hardier variegated and purple varieties are more adapted to 
higher and © exposed aplands, Intermediate between the two latter kinds mands the 
«Puaole» or , which for its vigorous growth, richness of jui tation 
to various foes used to ‘be and probably continues in much favor, part icularly as it 
tassels late and therefore allows a great latitude of season for cutting. The upper limit of 
In the lowlands the plant requires 12—15 months to arrive at maturity, in the higher r 
regions 18—24 months. 
Susptrise III. MAYDEAE. 
secs unisexual, the staminate ones in eerie panicles or spikes, 
solitary, rarely snsvonndiine the pistillate ones; the latter in axillary 
ratio or solitary 
Here belongs also Coiz iacryma or «Job’s tears», remarkable for the hard bony in- 
yoluere of the seed. 
14. ZBA, L. 
Monoecious. Male spikelets in pairs, in a terminal panicle, 2-flowered. 
concave, awnless; third and fourth glume hyaline, each with a palea aia 
3 stamens. Female spikelets sessile in many rows over an axillary, thick 
cylindrical, corky rhachis or spadix, which is enveloped by several large 
bract-like sheaths. Glumes fleshy-membranous, concave, the outer ones 
broad, ciliate, the lowest emarginate or bifid; the third and feurth each 
with a palea, but the former sterile. Style simple, very long, shortly bifid. 
Grain subglo ard, surrounded by the dried glumes and paleae. 
A single species of American origin. 
71, Z. Mays, L. — Stem erect, hairy, 3—4 ft. high. Leaves broad 
ate, drooping. Ligule short. Bract-like sheaths numerous. Tale 
spikelets pedicellate. 
Probably introduced by Vancouver or shortly after his visit. 
