98. GEAMINEJS. 475 



Order XCVIII. GEAMINE^E. 



Fl. perfect or unisexual, 1, 2 or more seated bifariously on a 

 common axis which is contained within an involucre of 2 (or 1) 

 valves (glumes) or rarely none, the whole forming a locusta or 

 spikelet. Each fl. of 1 or 2 scales (pales) of which the outer 

 or lower is simple and usually keeled, the inner with 2 veins 

 or keels. Hypogynous scales 2, 3 or none. Stam. hypogynous, 

 1 6, usually 3. Anth. versatile, notched at both ends. Ovary 

 1 -celled. Styles usually 2, rarely 1 or 3. Embryo on the out- 

 side of the albumen and at its base. L. with split sheaths 1 . 



Suborder I. CLISANTHE^E 2 . 



Flowers closed. Styles or stigmas long, protruded at or near 

 to the top of the flower. 



A. Rachis of inflorescence without lateral excavations. 



Tribe I. PANICEJE. Spikelet [ s dor sally compressed, \-flowered, 

 or with 1 fl. and an inferior glumelike rudiment or a neuter 

 flower. Lower gl. much the smaller, often rudimentary. 



1. DIGITARIA. Spikes fingered. Spikelets in pairs on one 

 side of the flattened rachis, awnless, 1 -flowered, with an 

 inferior rudiment. Gl, 2, lower smaller or 0, upper 3- 

 veined. Sterile fl. of one 5 7- veined pale equalling the 

 flower. 



[2. ECHINOCHLOA. Spikes compound, secund in the whole 

 and in each part. Spikelets on one side of the flattened 

 partial rachis, 2-flowered, inferior fl. rudimentary. Gl. 2, 



1 Nearly all the genera of this Order are beautifully figured in the 

 Gen. FL Germ. Monocotyl. vol. i. See also Andersson's PL Seand. 

 fasc. ii. and Du Mortier in Bull. Soc. Sot. Belg. vii. 65. 



[Since the last edition appeared a large number of so-called varieties 

 of Grasses have been published as British ; many of these we have 

 ignored, being apparently merely trivial and transitory variations charac- 

 terised by slight differences in stature, habit, or colour, more condensed 

 or extended inflorescence, broader or narrower leaves, greater or less 

 hairiness, and the like. H. & J. G.] 



2 The suborders of Fries although convenient for us will not apply 

 generally, see Bentham, Linn. Soc. Journ. xix. 26. Bentham says prac- 

 tically useless except for grasses in a living state. They are retained 

 here as we use them in that state of the plants. 



