294 GRAMINE^E. [Xarthecium. 



mity. Name from vapOy^ a ro d, probably from the elon- 

 gated straight raceme of flowers. 



Hexandria. Monogynia. 



1. N. ossifragum, Huds. Lancashire Bog -Asphodel. Leaves 

 linear, uniform ; pedicels with bracteas above the middle ; 

 stamens much shorter than the perianth. Br. Fl. 1. p. 158. 

 E. Fl. v. ii. p. 151. E. Bot. t. 535. 



Wet places in moors and on mountains, ^ frequent. Fl. July, Aug. 

 II. Six to eight inches high, decumbent at the base. Hoots creep- 

 ing. Leaves all radical, uniform, equitant, striated, about half as long 

 as the scape, which has many scales or bracteas. Seeds with a very 

 long arillus, forming an appendage to each extremity, attached to a 

 longitudinal receptacle on each valve ; the receptacles form the disse- 

 piments. 



SUBCLASS II. GLUMACE^. Lindl. 



Flowers without any perianth (unless the bristles in some 

 Cyperacece, or the curious urceolate covering to the ovary in 

 Carex, can be considered such) ; but enclosed within imbricated, 

 membranous, or chaffy scales or bracteas. 



ORD. 89. GRAMINE^E. Juss. Grass Family. 



Flowers perfect, sometimes monoecious or polygamous. Glume 

 (calyX) L.) generally 2-valved, 1 2-flowercd, or many-flowered 

 in a distichous manner, upon a common rachis. Palece. 

 (Perianth, Br. Corolla, L.) resembling the glume, generally 

 2, rarely 1-valved : the valves dissimilar, the outer often keeled, 

 1 3 or many-nerved, awned or awnless, the inner one gene- 

 rally 2-nerved and awnless, rarely with two awns; sometimes 

 wanting. Scales two, (or one,) hypogynous, succulent, minute, 

 generally collateral, and situated between the exterior valve of 

 thepalce and the stamens, sometimes opposite, and alternating 

 with the valves; sometimes wanting. Stamens hypogynous, 

 definite (Pariana excepted), generally 3, sometimes 1 2, or 6, 

 rarely 4 : anthers 3-celled, forked at each extremity. Ovary 1, 

 1-seeded. Styles generally 2, distinct or combined below, 

 sometimes 1 3. Stigmas feathery or hispid. Pericarp adnate 

 with the seed (caryopsis. Rich.), membranaceous. Albumen 

 farinaceous. Embryo in the base of the outside of the albumen, 

 monocotyledonous ; the cotyledon scutelliform, fleshy. Plu- 

 mule naked, included in a peculiar sheath, its primary leaflets 

 gradually changing into perfect leaves. Plants of every part of 



