296 MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



close together. Hordeum (Barley). In each tooth three 1 -flowered 

 spikelets. H. liexasticlium (6-rowed Barley), has 6 rows of fruits, 

 since all the spikelets are fertile, and H. distichum (2-rowed Barley) 

 2 rows, since the lateral spikelets are <^, and barren (p. 292). 

 Elymus has 2-6 many-flowered spikelets in each joint of the main 

 axis. JEgilops has awns upon the glumes. 



DISTRIBUTION. 315 genera with 3,500 species. The order is distributed 

 over the wbole world, and as regards number of individuals is perhaps the 

 richest. In the Tropics, large, broad-leaved, tree-like forms are found (Bam- 

 busece, Olyrece, Andropogonece, etc. ; in S. Europe, Arundo donax) ; in England, 

 next to the Composite, it is the order most rich in species (about 134). The 

 origin of some of the cultivated Grasses is lost in obscurity. The Maize, no 

 doubt, was indigenous to America, where its nearest relatives are found, and 

 where it has also been discovered in ancient Indian graves ; Durra or Guinea- 

 corn, Millet and Sugar-cane are South Asiatic plants, and our own cereals no 

 doubt have sprung primarily from Western Asia and South-Eastern Europe 

 (Barley from Armenia and Persia, where a very closely related wild species 

 is found ; Wheat from the same districts ; Kye from the perennial species 

 S. montanum). Panicwn altissimum and Rice have come from Africa. 



USES. The Grasses play a very important part as cereals and fodder plants. 

 The following are the most important of the cultivated ones: Triticum vulgare 

 (common Wheat), turgidum, amijleum, polcnicum, ppelta, durum, etc. ; Secale 

 cere.ale (Rj'e) ; Barley (Hordeum-species, see under the genus) ; Maize ; 0>its 

 (Avena sativa, orientalis, nuda) ; Millet (Panicum miliaceum) ; Durra (Turkish 

 Millet, or Guinea corn, Sorghum vulgare, cernuum and saccharatuni) ; Manna- 

 grass (Glyceria fluitarw). As fodder-plants especially : Rye-grass (Lolhun 

 perenne) ; Oat-grass (Avf.na elatior) ; Timothy (Phleum pratense) ; Fox-tail 

 (Alopccurus pratensis) ; Cock's foot (Dactylic glomerata) ; Dog's tail (Cyno&uru* 

 cristatus) ; Sweet-vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum) ; Soft grass, or Yorkshire-fog 

 (Holcus lanatus and moll is) ; Quaking-grass (Briza media) ; species of Meadow- 

 grass (Pod) ; Fescue (Festuca) and Brome (Bromu*). Several cultivated species 

 of Grass are also used in the preparation of fermented liquors, the starch in 

 the seeds being transformed to sugar (beer from " Malt," i.e. the germinated 

 Barley ; arrack from Rice) ; or the stem becomes specially saccharine before 

 flowering: the Sugar-cane, Sorghum sacchai atuin. 



OFFICINAL. The rhizome of Triticum repeiis. Oat-grain, flour of Barley, and 

 the starch of Wheat, also sugar. 



The seeds of Lolium temulentum are considered poisonous. The stems of 

 many species (including our common grains) are used in the manufacture 

 of paper, especially " Esparto grass " (Stipa tenacissima) from Spain and N. 

 Africa, and the sheathing-leaves of the ? -spike of Maize. Sand Lyme-grass (Ely- 

 mus arenarius), and especially Psamma arenaria, are important. But few Grass- 

 species are sweet-scented : AnthoxantJium odoratum and Hicrocliloa odorata 

 contain coumarin ; Avdntyoyon-species have essential oils ('' Citronella oil"). 

 OBNAMENTAL PLANTS are : the " Ribbon-grass" (a variety of Digraphis arundi- 

 nacea), Stipa pennata (whose awn is exceedingly long and feathery), Gynerium 

 firgenteum (Pampas-grass), Lagurus ovatus, Hordeumjulatum, Bromus brizi- 

 formis. 



