107 



Subtribe 7. CentotTiecece. — Leaves flat, lanceolate or pvate, with 

 transverse veinlets between the veins. Glumes, flowering with 5 or 

 more nerves. Example : CentotTieca lappacea, a burr-grass of the 

 tropical scrubs. 



Subtribe 8. TlufestucecB. — Glumes, flfJwering 5 or many-nerved, 

 the rest normal. Example : Briza minor, the small Quaking grass ; 

 and foa ccespitosa, called Tussac Poa or Weeping Polly grass. 



Tribe 12. Hobdeeje. — Spikelets with 1 or more flowers, sessile at 

 the teeth or notches of the rhachis of the simple spike. 



Subtribe 1. Triticeas. — Spikelets placed singly at the nodes, 

 with 3 or more flowers, more rarely with 2 flowers. Examples : The 

 Iioliums, Secale, and Triticums ; that is to say, the Eye grasses, Eye, 

 and Wheat. 



Subtribe 2. Lepturece. — Spikelets placed singly at the nodes, 

 with 1 or 2 flowers; spike slender. Example: Lepturus, OTie species 

 common on the Tropical Queensland coast. 



Subtribe 3. Mlymem. — Spikelets placed in pairs at the nodes, or 

 more placed collaterally. Example : Sordeum, any of the Barleys. 



Tribe 13. Bambitseje. — Lofty grasses, generally ligneous, at any 

 rate at the base. Leaves flat, very often with articulate sheath. 

 Spikelets with I or more flowers. Lodicules generally 3. Stamens 3, 

 4, or more. 



Subtribe 1. ArundinariecB. — Stamens 3. Palea bicarinate. Peri- 

 carp slender, adnate to the seed. Example : FTiyllostacJiys nigra, 

 the Black-stemmed Bamboo. 



Subtribe 2. MibamhusecB. — Stamens 6. Palea bicarinate. Peri- 

 carp slender, adnate to the seed. Example : Bambusa vulgaris, the 

 Common Bamboo. 



Subtribe 3. Dendrocalamem. — Stamens 6. Palea bicarinate. 

 Pericarp crustacebus, or fleshy, free from the seed. Example : 

 Dendrocalamus stricta. 



Subtribe 4. MelocannecB. — Stamens 6, or more. Palea none, 

 unless very similar to the glumes. Pericarp crustaceous or fleshy, 

 free from the seed. 



Teibe I. PANICEiE. 



PANICrM, Linn. 

 (Erom panicula, a panicle ; or panis, bread) . 

 Spikelets with one terminal hermaphrodite flower and occasionally 

 a male or rudimentary flower below it, rarely awned, _ variously 

 arranged along the branches of a simple or compound panicle rarely 

 reduced to a simple spike, the partial rhichis very rarely produced 

 beyond the last spikelet; barren awnlike branches none, or very 

 rarely a single one. Glumes usually 4, the outer one smaller than the 

 others, not awned, often very small, deflcient only in P. gihlosvm (a 

 rare species found in a few parts of (Queensland and North Australia); 

 the second and third very variable in relative proportions, the third 

 occasionally with a palea with or without 3 stamens in its axil ; fourth 

 or fruiting glume smaller or as long as the third, of a firmer consistence, 

 enclosing a palea and hermaphrodite flower. Styles distinct or very 

 shortly united at the base. • Grain enclosed in the hardened fruiting 

 glume and palea, but free from them. 



