572 



ORDER CXLII. GRAMLNACE^E. 



Genus I.— LEER'SIA. SoL 

 (Named after Leers, a German botanist.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered. Glume none. Palece 2, keeled, com- 

 pressed. Scales 2. Flowers in panicles. 



1. L. Virgin'ica, (Willd.) Stem decumbent, erect, hairy at the joints 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate, scabrous, acute. Panicle loose, terminal, with 

 scattered branches. Flowers on one side of the rachis, monandrous. 

 Palece equal ; the exterior one keeled, the interior one ciliate. — 1(. 

 Aug. — Sept. Damp soils. 2 — 3 feet. Rice-grass. 



2. L. t.enticula'ris, (Mich.) Stem erect, glabrous, except at the 

 joints. Leaves scabrous along the margins ; sheaths hispid. Panicle 

 erect. Flowers large, diandrous. Palece ciliate. — If. Aug. — Sept. 

 Damp soils. 2 — 4 feet. 



3. L. oryzoi'des, (Swartz.) Stem erect, or procumbent at the base. 

 Leaves scabrous, linear-lanceolate. Panicle large. Flowers triandrous, 

 imbricate, with the keel of the palese ciliate. — If. Oct. — Nov. Swamps. 

 3—4 feet. 



Genus II— ORY'ZA. L. (Rice.) 

 (From erwz, the Arabic name for Rice.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered. Glumes 2, small, membranaceous. 

 Palece 2, coriaceous, compressed, keeled, about equal in length ; 

 lower one much the broadest. Stamens 6. Ovarium smooth. 

 Styles 2. Achenium smooth, oblong. 



1. 0. sati'va, (L.) Leaves linear, elongated, scabrous. Flowers in 

 racemose panicles ; branches weak, scabrous. Glumes linear-lanceo- 

 late ; spikelets terminated by an awn. — Cultivated in all parts of the 

 world. 



There are six varieties of this species described by authors, which have, no doubt, 

 been produced by cultivation and peculiar local circumstances. 



'2. O. latifo'lia, (Des.) Culm winged. Leaves lanceolate, narrow, 

 acute at the apex, obtuse at the base. Panicle with the lower branches 

 verticillate. Glumes lanceolate, acute. Palece hispid. — Carolina and 

 southward to S. America. 



Genus III.— ZIZA'NIA. L. ( Water or Indian Rice.) 

 (From eizanion, the name of some wild grain.) 



Flowers monoecious. Glume none. Sterile florets mingled 

 with the fertile ones. Palece 2, sub-awned. Fertile florets; 

 palese 2, a wired; style 2-parted. 



1. Z. AQfl ai'u'a, (Ell.) {Hydropyrvm cscuhnfum, Link.) Stem erect, 

 glabrous, pubescent al tbe joints. Leaves oblong, lanceolate, glabrous ; 

 sheaths shorter than the joints. Flowers in terminal panicles; the 

 upper branches bearing fertile flowers, the lower onus sterile. Stamens 

 G. Styles 2.— U- Oct.— Nov. In inundated lands. 6—12 feet. 



Wild Rice. 



