GROUP IV. — PHANEROGAMIA : ANGI0SPERM2E : MONOCOTYLEDON ES. 547 



position of the branches of the panicle is more or less bilateral : 

 dorsi ventral, when {e.g. Festuca) the br*anchlets of the main 

 branches of the panicle all arise on the same side (unilateral or 

 secund panicle). 



The androecinm consists commonly of one (Fig. 353 B) or two 

 {A) whorls of 2-3 stamens ; when there is bat one whorl of 

 stamens, it corresponds to the outer whorl in those flowers in 

 which two whorls are present. Sometimes {e.g. Luziola, Ochlandra, 

 Pariana) the stamens are numerous (about 18-20), or there may 

 be but one or two. When there are normally only two stamens, 

 they are usually situated in the median plane {e.g. Anthoxanthum), 

 sometimes in the lateral plane {e.g. Coleanthus); but where this 

 is the result of suppression (Diarrhena, Orthoclada) they are 

 postero-lateral, the anterior stamen being suppressed : when there 

 is only a single stamen, this is generally the anterior stamen {e.g. 

 species of Festuca and Andropogon), the two postero-lateral 

 stamens being suppressed. 



The monomerous gy naDceum consists of a single median carpel 

 (Fig. 353), bearing 1-3 styles (see p. 524): the single, somewhat 

 campylotropous ovule is sessile on the ventral suture of the carpel. 



The stem is generally characterised by swollen or tumid nodes, 

 to which the sheathing leaf-bases contribute. The long interned es 

 are hollow : the sheathing leaf-bases are largely developed, and 

 frequently extend over several internodes. A membranous ligule 

 is developed at the junction of leaf-base and lamina (see p. 48; 

 Fig. 28). 



The more common Grasses are classified as follows : — 



Series A. Panicoide^ : spikelet one-flowered, or sometimes two-flowered 

 and then the lower flower is imperfect ; articulated so that it falls off entire 

 after flowering ; no prolongation of the axis beyond the flower. 



Tribe 1. Fanicece : spilcelets dorsally compressed, in compound spikes : 

 glumes 3, of which the lowest is the smallest: inferior palea without an awn. 



Panicum glabrum {Diyitariu hwnifusa), l\ {Echinochloa) Crus-galli, and P. 

 {Setaria) viiide occur occasionally on cultivated land. P. miliaceum yields 

 Millet. 



Tribe 2. Maydece : the diclinous flowers are in distinct epikelets ; the two 

 kind« of spikelets usually form distinct inflorescences, but sometimes they occur 

 in different parts of the same inflorescence : the lowest glume is the largest. 



Zea Mais, the Maize Plant, cultivated in warm countries, is a native of 

 Tropical America: the ^ spikelets form a loose panicle at the apex of the 

 haulm, and the 9 flowers are borue laterally on a thick spadix, which is en- 

 sheathed by leaves. Coix belongs to this tribe. 



