XVI 



INTRODUCTION. 



(^carinatusjy 1 



, (^ciliahisj, h 



(^triincatusj, 



(^ cuspidatus J 



- The corolla, or inner husks, contains the essential parts of the flower, (staminas, style, and 

 germen); when the seed is perfected, they generally enclose and adhere to it. This, and the 

 calyx, constitute the chaff of oats, wlieat, &c. It has the following varieties : 



1. One-valved, (univalvis), which consists of one valve only, as in Trichodium rupesfre. 



2. Two-valved, (^bivalvis), as in most grasses. ■ * 



3. Awned, CarisitataJ, when furnished with an awn* 



4. Awnless, fmiiticaj, wanting the awn. • , 



5. Ribbed, (newosa), when the valve has nerves, or veiiis/ which ruii from the base to its 



apex, as in Poa nervosa. 



y m 



6. Fringed, fciiiata J s sls in Phieum pratense. 



The valves are also distinguished according to their figure, as, oval, oblong, concave, egg- 

 shaped. • 



• The stamina are the male parts of fructification. Each consists of three parts — the filament, 

 the anther, and the pollen, or flower-dust. The filament is a long thread-like substance, which 

 supports the anthers. The anther is a cellular body of a linear figure, generally cloven at both 

 ends ; it contains the pollen, which is essential to the production of the seed. It varies in respect 

 of colour, as, 



White, in Phleum echinatum 

 Yellow, in most grasses. 

 Saffron, in Bromus erectus. 

 Purple, in Melica ccemlea. 



The pistil, (pistiliimX is the female part of the flower, and likewise consists of three 

 parts — the germen, the style, and the stigma. 



^ The germen is situated at the bottom of the flower ; it appears a pellucid globular body, but 

 in general it requires the aid of a microscope to see it distinctly. It is the rudiment of the future 

 seed. 



The style consists of two feather-like bodies, seated on the top of the germen : they are o-e- 

 nerally bent back, or reflexed. * 



Th 



e stigma, terminates the style, and gives to it that feather-like appearance. 



fnectarium) 



er of 



some grasses ; it is supposed 



to serve the purpose ot a reservoir for the honev-inir-f» • i^ c.^^.. + v ii 



^ ^ noney juice , m structure, it generally resembles the 



the caljx, I huve included it here, under the distinction multivalve calvx • mpr^l^ f -a . 



n , c .1 ' . A cry . . uvaive caiyx , merely to avoid tpo numerous divisions, which, to 



those who confme their study of Botany only 10 the Grasses ffor whn«*. »«^ *t. >vmcu, 



,,^,1 y y ^^ 1-rasses, (for whose use these pages are only designed), will be. I trust. 



