32J GLUMACE^ 



especially of India, have woody stems which in one species, Den- 

 drocalamus gigantens, attain a height of 80-100 feet and a thick- 

 ness of from 8-10 inches. 



Grasses are present in all regions where flowering plants can 

 exist. In temperate countries they are the dominating con- 

 stituents of meadows and pastures and of the herbage that 

 clothes the country road-sides. 



The fruit of grasses, commonly called the grain, is usually rather 

 small, as canary seed, wheat, maize, etc., but in an Indian bamboo, 

 Melocanna batnbusoides, the globose or ovoid fruit is 3-5 inches 

 long and 2-3 inches thick. 



Amongst the grasses which are cultivated for decorative purposes 

 Stipa pennata and the species of Coriadcria (Pampas-grass), more 

 familiar under the name of Gynerium, may be mentioned. Their 

 feathery or plume-like inflorescences are commonly dried and coloured. 



Esparto-grass, which is employed for making baskets, hats, mats, 

 paper, etc., is botanically known as Stipa (or Macrochloa) ienacis- 

 sima. It is a native of Spain, Italy, and North Africa. 



Cane-sugar is the product of a woody-stemmed grass {Saccharum 

 officinarum) , which grows from 8-12 feet high, a native of tropical 

 and subtropical Asia, and now largely cultivated in most of the 

 warmer countries ; and various fragrant oils are obtained from 

 other grasses, especially from species of Andropogon. 



For binding the loose maritime sands, an important factor in 

 checking coast erosion, the Marram-grass (Amnwphila arenaria), 

 with its far-creeping rootstock and sand-loving nature, is pecu- 

 liarly well fitted ; while recently special attention has been directed 

 to the species of Spartina, which appear to be serving the purpose 

 of mud-binders along the Hampshire coast, where they flourish. 



Sub-Order I. Clisantiie.e. Flowers closed ; styles long, pro- 

 truded at or near the top of the flower. 



A. Rachis of inflorescence without lateral hollows 



Tribe i. Panice.e. Spikelels dorsally compressed, i-flowered, 

 sometimes with a rudimentary flower as well ; lowest glume 

 much the smaller. 



1. Panicum (Panic). Spikelels in a loose or close and spike- 

 like panicle or along one side of the simple branches of a panicle, 

 usually small, i-flowcred, rarely awned ; pedicels of spikelets naked 

 or hairy. {Panicum is the Latin name for a kind of millet.) 



2. Setaria (Bristle-Grass). Spikelels in a compound cylindrical 

 spike, usually small, i-flowered, similar to those of Panicwn, but 

 their pedicels bear a number of bristles. (Name from the Latin 

 seta, a bristle ) 



