300 OBSERYATIOXS ON PLANTS 



the siibgeneric name Hermodaciylum may, perliaps, be ap- 

 plied, while that established on Hypoxis fascicularis may be 

 called Monocarijum. 



The position of the pistillum in CoIcJiiciim {Monocaryuiii) 

 fascicuJare is not easily deterramed. I believe it to be 

 placed within the anterior segment of the onter series of 

 the perianthium ; bnt, from the great length of the tube, it 

 is difficult to ascertain such a point in dried specimens. 

 This, however, is the position in which I should expect it, 

 both in reference to the usual relation of the solitary simple 

 pistillum to the axis of the spike, or to the subtending 

 bractea in all phaenogamous plants, and also with regard 

 to the constant relation of the parts of the compound pis- 

 tillum to the divisions of the perianthium in ]\Ionocotyle- 

 dones ; for it is worthy of remark, that a difference in this 

 relation may be said to exist in the two primary divisions 

 of phoenogamous plants — the pistilla when distinct, or their 

 component parts when united, being in Dicotyledones 

 usually placed opposite to the petals, when these are of 

 equal number ; while in Monocotyledones the cells of the 

 trilocular ovarium are, I believe, uniformly opposite to the 

 divisions of the outer series of the perianthium. 



Cyperace.^. Of twelve species of this family existing 

 in the herbarium, six are referable to Cyperus, three 

 to Eimbristylis, and three to Scirpus. Among these 

 theve is no remarkable, nor, I believe, any undescribed 

 species. Of C. Papyrus, which, according to Captain 

 Clapperton, grows in the Shary, there is no specimen in the 

 collection. 



Gramine/E. Of this extensive family, with which Dr. 

 Oudney was more conversant than with any other, and to 

 w^hich, therefore, during the expedition, he probably paid 

 greater attention, the herbarium contains forty-five species ; 

 and in dividing the order into two great tribes, as I have for- 

 244] merly proposed,^ thirty of these species belong to Poacece 

 and fifteen to Pcmicece. This relative proportion of these 

 two tribes is considerably different from what might have 



^ Ilinderis Foy. to Terra AusU\ 2, _/?. 582. {Ante, pp. 57-8.) 



