GRAMINACEJE. 



spathe to each pair of spikes. Flowers on the body of the rachis in 

 pairs ; one awned, hermaphrodite, and sessile ; the other awnless, male, 

 and pedicelled ; the terminal florets are 3, 1 hermaphrodite, sessile, and 

 awned, the other 2 male, pedicelled and awnless. Hermaphrodite. 

 Glumes 2, 1-flowered, at the base surrounded with wool, as are also the 

 rachis, and proper pedicels. Paleae 2, fringed ; the inner 2-parted, with 

 a short arista in the fissure. Scales 2, minute, embracing the ovary 

 laterally. Male glumes as in the hermaphrodite. Palea single. 

 This has been said to yield grass oil ; but Dr. Royle denies it : see 

 No. 1303. 



1302. A. Schoenanthus Linn, sp.pl. 1481. Vent. eels. t. 89. 

 Roxb.fi. ind. i. 274. Kunth. agrost. 493. (Rheede xii. t. 72. 

 Rumph. v. t. 72. f. 2.) E^oivo?, Dioscorides. Arabia, only culti- 

 vated in India Roxb. (Lemon Grass.) 



Perennial, erect. Panicle somewhat secund, linear, leafy. Spike- 

 lets in pairs. Common pedicel furnished with a spathe, and partial 

 pedicels and spathes. Florets all awnless. Male floret with only 

 1 valve. Fresh leaves much used in India as a substitute for tea. 

 The full grown leaves roasted are considered by Indian practitioners 

 as an excellent stomachic. The whole plant has an aromatic bitter 

 flavour. 



1303. A. Calamus aromaticus Royle essay p. 34. KaXa^o? 

 apupa.TiY.oi;, Dioscorides. India. 



Known only from a short note by Dr. Royle, who states that it, 

 and not A. Ivarancussa, produces the fragrant and stimulant Grass oil 

 of Namur, and who conjectures it to have been the " sweet cane " and 

 the " rich aromatic reed from a far country " of Scripture. It is used 

 in India as an external application in rheumatism, in the same way as 

 Cajeputi. It is also given as a stimulant. 



SACCHARUM. 



Spikelets all fertile, in pairs, the one sessile, the other stalked, 

 articulated at the base, 2-flowered ; the lower floret neuter, with 

 1 palea, the upper ^ with 2 paleae. Glumes 2, membra- 

 nous. Paleae transparent, awnless ; those of the minute, un- 

 equal. Stamens 3. Ovary smooth. Styles 2, long ; stigmas 

 feathered, with simple toothletted hairs. Scales 2, obscurely 

 2- or 3-lobed at the point, distinct. Caryopsis smooth ? loose ? 

 Kunth. 



1304. S. sinense Roxb. corom. iii. t. 232. fl. ind. \. 239. Kunth. 

 agrost. 474. China. 



Stem solid, erect, jointed, from 10 to 15 feet high, the greatest part 

 covered with the sheaths of the leaves ; joints from 4 to 8 inches long, 

 and from 2 to 3 inches in circumference, colour pale brownish yellow. 

 Leaves sub-bifarious, tapering from the base to a long, fine, point, 

 plane, smooth on both sides ; the margins armed with numerous, small, 

 very acute spines pointing forward ; length from 2 to 3 feet, and about 

 an inch and a half broad at the base. Sheaths smooth, with a small 

 ligula. Panicle ovate, erect, branches simple and compound, sub- 

 verticillate, reclinate, long and slender. In S. ofncinarum the branches 

 of the panicle are scattered over the common rachis and are decom- 



612 



