GRAMINE^E. 217 



Glumacece. 



58. GRAMINEJE. 



Flowers giumaceous, generally hermaphrodite, but some- 

 times monoecious or polygamous. Bractese generally 

 two in number (two-valved) ; the valves alternate, 

 sometimes single, (one-valved) ; mostly unequal. Peri- 

 anthium of two pieces or valves, alternate, the outer or 

 lower valve sometimes bifid or aristated, or both. Scales 

 2-3, sometimes absent. Stamens hypogynous, (often 

 3), with versatile anthers. Ovarium simple ; styles 

 one to three, but mostly two in number ; stigmas often 

 plumose. Fruit a caryopsis, (the fruit dry and inde- 

 hiscent, the endocarp adhering to the integuments of the 

 seed). " Embryo lying on one side of the albumen at the 

 base, lenticular, with a broad cotyledon and a developed 

 plumula ; and occasionally, but very rarely, with a 

 second cotyledon on the outside of the plumula, and 

 alternate with the usual cotyledon." Albumen fari- 

 naceous. 



Herbaceous, generally simple, sometimes branched, 

 rarely shrubby ; stems or culms fistulose, covered with 

 an external siliceous layer, and closed at the joints or 

 nodii. Leaves one to each joint, with a sheath slit lon- 

 gitudinally at one side, having a membranous appen- 

 dage (ligule) at its summit. Flowers small, panicled, 

 spiked, or racemed ; secondary spikes termed locustse. 



Geographical Relations. Of the nearly 2000 species 

 known, about 800 are tropical, and from 1150 to 1200 

 are extra- tropical. 



