592 ORDER CXLII. GRAMINACE^E. 



Genus XXXIV.— UXIO'LA. L. 

 (The ancient name of some grass.) 



Glumes lanceolate, compressed, keeled. Florets 3 — 20, in 

 two rows. Spikelets compressed ; the lower palea carinate, 

 mucronate, the upper one subulate. Scales emarginate. Seed 

 2-horned. 



1. U. latifo'lia, (Mich.) Ste?n terete, glabrous. Leaves flat, gla- 

 brous; throat of the sheath ciliate. Glumes 3, 7 — 14-flowered, the 

 upper ones sterile ; exterior palea many-nerved, with the keel ciliate. 

 Flowers generally monandrous. — If. Aug. — Sept. Mountains. 



2. U. nit'ida, (Bald.) Stem glabrous. Leaves flat, narrow. Pani- 

 cles expanding, few-flowered. Glumes 3, many-flowered. Flowers mo- 

 nandrous. — U. June — July. Middle Geo. 2 — 5 feet. 



3. U. paxicula'ta, (L.) Stem erect, glabrous. Leaves long, narrow, 

 entire, glabrous ; sheaths hairy at the throat. Panicle large. Glumes 

 4 — 5, many-flowered ; exterior palea mucronate, 6-nerved, interior one 

 ciliate. — IX. July — Aug. On the sea-coast. 4 — 8 feet. 



4. U. gra'cilis, (Mich.) Stem glabrous, erect. Leaves scabrous on 

 the upper surface, linear, flat. Glumes 3, 3-flowered. Panicle long, 

 erect, with appressed branches. Flowers monandrous. — 2£. Through 

 the summer. Very common. 1 — 2 feet. 



Genus XXXV— ARUNDIXA'RIA. Rich. 

 (From arundo, a reed.) 



Glumes 2, many-flowered, unequal, the exterior one smallest. 

 Palece 2, unequal, the exterior one largest. Styles 3-cleft, short. 



1. A. macbosper'ma, (Mich.) Stem erect, glabrous, terete, with hollow 

 internodes. Leaves large, flat, distichous ; sheaths longer than the joints. 

 Panicle terminal, composed of distichous spikes ; peduncles pubescent ; 

 the exterior glumes ciliate, very small; the exterior palea largest, cili- 

 ate. Seed cylindrical. Does not flower every year ; when it does 

 bloom, it is in the spring. — If. Rich damp soils. 5 — 20 ft. Cane. 



Genus XXXVI.— TRIT'ICUM. L. (Wheat.) 

 (From tritum, ground ; because the fruit is ground.) 



Flowers in spikes ; spikelets distichously imbricate, sessile, 

 3 — 4-ilowered. Glumes 2, nearly equal, opposite. Palece lan- 

 ceolate; the lower concave, acuminate or awned. Scales 2, 

 ciliate. 



1. T. sati'vum. Spikes -1-angled, imbricated; spikelets 4 or less; 

 valves ventricose, ovate, truncate, mucronate; nerve prominent. Floxo- 

 ern awned or unawnod. Fruit free. 



The native country of wheat is uncertain, although it tins been thought to have 

 been Indigenous to Central or (Southwestern Asia [t has been cultivated for thou- 

 sands of yean, There are now no leas than three hundred varieties in cultivation. 

 The character of the grain is very much affected by soil and culture: the richest soil 

 and highest culture produce the richesl grain. 



,s" t . , . Rye, is native among the mountains of Caucasus, around the Cas- 



pian ^ea, and in the Crimea. 



