412 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



below the first glume, but not between the flowering 

 glumes as in ELUSINE. 



PANICUM is an example of one half of the order, 

 ELUSINE of the other. For the family is divided into 

 two sub-orders, or series : 



1. The POACE^B, in which the spikelet is continuous 

 with its pedicel, but jointed between the glumes. These 

 may be few or many, but the lowest is always seed- 

 bearing, the infertile ones, if any, being at the top. To 

 this belong ELUSINE (C), ERAGROSTIS (A), CHLORIS 



(B and E), Hurrialee [CYNODON] , Oat [A VENA] , Bam- 

 boo, and many others. 



2. The PANICACE^E, in which the spikelet is jointed 

 to its pedicel and when ripe falls off as a whole. 

 It has one or two flowering glumes only, the top 

 one, if there are two, being alone fertile. To this 

 series belong the Millets and Guinea-grass [PANICUM] , 

 Cumboo [PENNISETUM] , Paddy [ORIZA] , Maize [ZEA] 

 and Sorghum [ANDROPOGON] . In the last of these the 

 spikelets are in pairs, one being stalked the other not. 

 There are many other variations in the form and size 

 of the spikelets, but there must be studied in the 

 genera themselves. 



The GRAMINE^E are the largest of all families, and 

 spread all over the world. Most are small plants, grow- 

 ing in large numbers together, and forming regular 

 swards. There is usually an underground rhizome 

 which branches copiously, has thick nodes and scale 

 like leaves, and in perennial species is often well stored 

 with starch and sugar, e.g. the so called roots of Hur- 

 rialee (see pp. 116 and 119); above ground the stems 

 seldom branch below the flowering region. The stem is 



