ME. G. BENTHAM ON SEAMIKEJil. 119 



As a Bixth subtribe, Melicece, I have collected five genera 

 allied botli to Eragrostese and Festuceae, but technically connected 

 with each other by their spikelets containing two or more empty 

 glumes above the flowering ones. This character is also observed 

 in JSctrosia and in Lojphatherum, whicli I had formerly included 

 in the group ; but on other accounts the former appears better 

 placed in Bragrostese, and the latter in Centothecese. 



40. Cetptochloeis, Benth., a single species probably from 

 Patagonia, 41. Heteeachnj;, Benth., two Australian species, and 

 42. Anthochloa, Nees, one or two species from the Andes of 

 South America, are very distinct dwarf grasses, described and 

 figured in Hooker's Icones. 



43. Melica, Linn., contains above thirty species dispersed over 

 the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, and extending 

 down the Andes into extratropical South America, represented 

 also in South Africa. This genus, the typical representative of 

 the subtribe, has, been universally recognized since the days of 

 Linnseus, and less tampered with than any other genus of equal 

 extent, although it may be in some degree polymorphous in habit 

 as well as in character. In the typical Melicas, however varied 

 the panicle, long and narrow, or very loose and spreading, the 

 spikelets are generally nodding or pendulous, with rarely more 

 than two flowers ; the flowering glumes more or less scarious on 

 the margins and never awned, and the terminal empty glumes 

 one within the other, form an obovoid obtuse mass. In a section 

 proposed by Thurber for four North-west American species under 

 the name of Bromelica, the spikelets are erect, with more rigid 

 glumes occasionally awned and three to eight flowers, the upper 

 empty glumes narrower and not so closely packed, giving the 

 plants altogether so difierent an aspect, that I have much hesi- 

 tated whether I should not, as suggested by Thurber, raise the 

 section to the rant of a genus. In both sections the flowering 

 glumes have five or more nerves. M. stricta, Boland., is in some 

 measure intermediate between the two. Chondr achy rum, Nees, a 

 Brazilian species which I have not seen, would seem from the de- 

 scription given to be a true Melica. 



44. DiAEEHENA, Eafin. {Korycarfus, Gorycarpus or IRosmeria, 

 2i&&, Onoea, Franch. and Sabat.), two species, one from IN'orth 

 America, the other from Japan, is very near Melica ; but the 

 flowering glumes have only three nerves and are hardened round 

 the grain, which usually exceeds them, and the stamens are reduced 



