LV. GEAMINE^. 



885 



completely embracing the flowers. Glumelles membranous or somewhat coriaceous, 

 the lower usually awned ; awn usually dorsal, geniculate and bent below ; lower 

 glumelle of the flower at the base of the spikelet answering to the lower glume. 

 Stamens 3, rarely 2. Stigmas sessile or sub-sessile, divergent, protruding from the 

 sides of the flower. Caryopsis with a linear or punctiform hilary spot. 



I'EINOIPAL GENERA. 



Tribe XII. I^ESTUGEM. 



Spikelets all fertile, pedicelled, or more rarely sub-sessile, in a branched 

 spreading or spicate panicle, more rarely in a raceme or spike, 2-many-flowered, the 

 upper or lower flower often rudimentary or $ . Glumes 2, often shorter than the 

 contiguous flower. Glumelles 2, membranous or somewhat coriaceous, the lower 

 awned at or below the top, awn not twisted or muticous ; lower glumelle of the 

 'flower at the base of the spikelet answering to the lower glume. Stamens 3, rarely 

 2-1. Stigmas usually sessile or sub-sessile, divergent, protruding at the sides, and 

 usually towards the base of the flower. Caryopsis with a linear or punctiform 

 hilary spot. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Teibb XIII. TBITICSm. 



Spikelets all fertile, or rarely polygamous, spicate, sessile or sub-sessile on 

 the notches of the usually waved rachis ; 1- 2-many-flowered, the upper flower 

 usually arrested. Glumes 2, rarely 1 , variable in length. Glumelles herbaceous or 

 sub-coriaceous, rarely membranous, the lower awned at or below the top, or muticous ; 

 lower glumelle of the base of the spikelet answering to the lower glume. Stamens 

 3, rarely 1. Stigmas sessile or sub- sessile, divergent, protruding from the sides and 

 often towards the base of the ilower. Caryopsis with a linear hilary spot. 



* Lolium. 

 Lepturus. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Psilurus. * Hordeum. 



* Elymus. Nardus. Rottboellia. 



* Tritlciflh 



.^gilops. 

 * Secale. 



Oraminece form one of the most natural groups of plants ; it is principally to their numerous species 

 that the name of Grass is given ; but in tropical Asia we find Graminea of great height and even forming 

 true trees. Like all clearly defined families, they have few affinities with other orders, and they are really 

 only related to Cyperaeete, called by the ancients ' spurious Grasses ' (^Graminea spuria), from which they 

 differ by their parietal ovule, their seed with abundant farinaceous albumen, their leaves with a split 



