^22 



CYII. GRAMINE^. 



imbricated on a common axis or rachis contained within an 

 involucre (calyx L.) consisting of 2 (sometimes 1, rarely none) 

 valves or glumes^ the whole constituting a lociista or spikeleL 

 Perianth? (corolla L.) glumaceous: that of the fertile florets 



ually of 2 dissimilar glumellas (paleas or valvelets) ; lower or 

 outer simple, usually keeled or with a midrib; inner or upper 

 with 2 lateral or dorsal nerves (hence probably of 2 united) • 

 sometimes one, sometimes both are wanting: of the barren 

 florets of 1 — 2 glumellas ;. of the neuter ones often rudimentary 

 or wanting. Stamens hypogynous, 1 — 6, rarely indefinite, 

 usually 3. Anthers 2-celled, attached by their back about the 

 middle, versatile. Ovary superior, 1 -celled, with 1 ovule 

 Visually with 2 (rarely 1, or 0) minute hypogynous scales 

 (called lodicules^ abortive stamens?). Styles 2, rarely 1 (simple 

 <)r bifid) or 3 (perhaps only 1, and 2— 3-cleft). Stigmas often 

 plumose. Pericarp (a caryopsis) closely incorporated with the 

 seed. Embryo lenticular, external, lying on one side at the 

 base of the farinaceous albumen, — Stems or culms usually fistu- 

 la se^ generally simple and herbaceous^ hiotted^ sometimes branched^ 

 rarely shrubby. Leaves one to each node^ with a sheath slit Ion- 

 gitudinally on one side^ having often a membranous appendage 

 (ligule) at itsjummit (Tab. 9. f. 42, b. Flowers small^ solitary^ 

 or in spikelets, which ore panicled (Tab, 9. f. 42. d.) or spiked' 

 (Tab. 9. f. 42. c. e. f. g.). — A most natural Order, and one 

 of the highest importance in the whole Vegetable Kingdom, 

 comprehending the true Grasses. 



C 



I 



■I 



■8, 





A, Stamens 2, Styles 2, 



1. Anthoxanthum. Panicle spiked, Spikelet with one central fertile 



floret. Glumes 2. Glumellas 4, the two inner ones (the perfect 



floret) awnless, the two outer (each a neuter floret) awned and 

 larger. 



20. HiEKocHLOE. Panicle lax. Spikelets awnless, with one central per- 

 fect diandrous floret, and a barren triandrous one on each side. ' 

 32. Bkomus. Spikelets panicled, awned, with 3 or more perfect flowers. 



F 



B. Stamens 3. Style 1. Glumes 0. 



F 



2, JSTardus. Spike simple, unilateral. Florets sessile, solitary. Glu- 



mellas 2, outer one with a long subulate point. 



10, 



12, 





think it desirable, if characters are thereby required of greater difficulty than can 

 easily be surmounted by a student. We have likewise, for a similar reason, retained 

 the same arrangement ofthe genera as formerly, although it is certainly liable to 

 great objections : the number of flowers in a spikelet vary in the same genus and 

 even m the same species, as in Catabrosa, some species of Poa, and MeUca, &c, ; 

 and there IS a variety of one species of Bromus, which we can only distinguish 

 l?y,very minute generic characters from Poa {Glyceria) on one hand, and Lolium 

 on the other, although the genera themselves are naturally distinct. 



11 



:5.- 



y 



