OF THE GRAMINEJE. 



595 



contrast with dicotyledonous plants than the Gra- 

 mineae. 



Supposing the description of the parts of the 

 seminal Germ I have given is correct, it is plain, 

 that the definition of these by the celebrated au- 

 thor of the Philosophia Botanica does not apply 

 to those of the Gramineae *. Not to mention that 

 the seminal germ in the latter contains several di 

 stinct bulbs or plantules, two of which are visible 

 during the first period of germination, the organ 

 from which these germinate is altogether omitted. 

 But allowing that the term " plumula squamosa" 

 were applicable to the sheathed stem of the bulbs, 

 there is, as already observed, no " rostellum sim- 

 " plex descendens," the under part of their sheaths 

 (in Triticum homogeneous with the inner coat of 

 the seed), investing the fibrous roots for a time 

 only, soon decays, permitting the latter to diverge, 

 and to descend deeply into the soil. In short, 

 this definition, including the Germ of dicotyle- 

 donous seeds chiefly, is inapplicable to that of the 

 Gramineae, and probably of the Cyperaceae, Xrideae, 

 Liliaceae, and other kindred tribes. " Sed demon- 

 " stratio longe est optima experientia : — nam si 

 " traducatur ad alia quae similia existimantur ? nisi 



Pp2 



* " Corculum novae plantae rudimentum plumula 

 " pars corculi squamosa adscendens ; rostellum pars cor- 

 41 culi simplex descendens."— Phil, Bot, p. 52. 



