DIANDRIA DIGYNIA. Anthoxanthum. 9 



The seeds produce a great quantity of soft, tasteless mucilage, 

 when moistened ; hence they become serviceable for removing 

 extraneous matter from the eye, put under the eyelid for a few 

 moments. See G. E. 



" The seeds of Salvia verhendca, S. pratensis, and some other 

 species are covered with a dense mucilage, which is not visible till 

 the seeds are wetted. This mucilage consists mostly of very 

 minute spiral vessels, like those first described, by Professor 

 Lindley, (in the Botanical Register, fol. 1166, and in his Introduc- 

 tion to the Natural System of Botany, p. 220.) as composing the 

 mucous matter which envelopes the seeds of Collomia linearis. 



" If a seed of Salvia verhenaca, be put on a small bit of glass, and 

 placed on the stage of a microscope, and then whetted by letting fall 

 upon it a drop or two of clear water, the spiral vessels will be seen 

 to dart forth in great numbers from the outside of the testa, or 

 skin, forming a com^jlete and beautiful radius round the seed, 

 which, if suffered to dry upon the glass, may be preserved as an 

 interesting object for the microscope, at any future time. 



" I can find no account of this in any work which I have con- 

 sulted. Sir James Edward Smith, Dr. Withering, and others, 

 have noticed the mucilage which covers the seed of Salvia verhe- 

 naca, but they are quite silent with respect to the spiral vessels, 

 which are so abundantly produced amongst it."' — J4^m. Baxter, 

 Sept. 24, 1831. 



^ CLA'DIUM'. Twig-rush. 



(C. Mariscus. Prickly T. Panicle repeatedly compound, 

 leafy. Spikes in heads. Stem round, leafy, smooth. 

 Leaves prickly at the edge and keel. 



Fens. Boggy places by the river Thames, near Tarn worth. Ray. 



Per. July, August. 



Erect, polished, three, or four ft. Ls. keeled. Fruit pointed.) 



DIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 



ANTHOXANTHUM \ Vernal Grass. 



A. odoratum. Sweet-scented F'. G. Panicle spiked, 

 egg-shaped, oblong. Flowers longer than their awns, 

 on short partial stalks. E. B. 647. C. 1. 4. Still, 

 f. Curt. Gr. f. 



Meadows, pastures. 

 Per. May. 



' Klados, Gr. = Gr. yellow flower. 



