71 



TRIANDRIA BIGYNJA. 



An entirely natui'al order, consisting of Grami7m. Linn. 4. 

 Grafitinece, Juss. 10. Br. Pr. 168. See Grammar, 68, 69. 



No natural order can be more clear and distinct than this. 

 But why Jussieu changed its old name Graviina, for 

 Graminece, I cannot discover. The plants are not grassy, 

 but grasses, ipsa gramina. To call them graminece, is to 

 compare them to themselves. 



The foUovv^ing view of their characters, taken chiefly from 

 Mr. Brown, will further illustrate what is contained in the 

 Grammar. 



Flo'wers for the most part united ; sometimes monoecious ; 

 more frequently imperfect in one or other of their organs 

 of impregnation. 



Calyx of Linneeus, {gluma of Brown,) a husJc, or glume, con- 

 taining 1 or IJlorets, or majiy Jlorets on a 2-ranked com- 

 mon stalk, or receptacle : it is mostly of 2 unequal valves, 

 rarely of 1 only, or entirely wanting. 



Corolla, {^perianth of Brown, ) a similar hush, or glume, al- 

 most always of 2 valves, (rarely of but 1,) which are dis- 

 similar; the outermost generally keeled, having 1, 3, or 

 many longitudinal ribs, pointed, often cloven at the sum- 

 mit, often bearing from below the top, a jointed, twisting, 

 hygrometrical, often feathery, (rarely simple and straight,) 

 awn : the innermost usually with 2 distant ribs, each at a 

 lateral fold ; generally without any awns, but with 2 if 

 any ; sometimes wanting. 



Nectary of Linnaeus, (squamulce of Brown,) 1, or 2 com- 

 bined, minute, membranous or fleshy scales, beneath the 

 germen, either both at one side, between the outer valve 

 of the corolla and the stamens, or alternate with the valves, 

 and opposite to each other ; sometimes entirely wanting. 



Stamens below the germen, definite, except in Pariana ,- Jila- 

 ments long and capillary : anthers of 2 cells, oblong, pro- 

 minent, pendulous, forked and divaricated at each end. 



Germen with a solitary kernel: styles mostly 2, either di- 

 stinct, or partly combined, rai-ely 1 only, and still more 

 rarely 3 ; Stigmas rough, or feathery, sometimes branched, 

 or compound. 



Seed with a close, simple, firmly united, nnembranous, co- 

 loured skin ; eithei- naked, and unconnected ; or inclosed 

 in the permanent hardened valves of the corolla, consti- 



