so 
TRIANDRIA. 
Class III. 
Class III. — TRIANDRIA. 3 Stamens. 
This class, which is larger than the two preceding, contains most of the genera of three considerable and very 
natural orders, the Irideee, Cyperaces, and Gramines. The first are ch.efly bulbous-rooted sword-leaved plants, 
with brilliant but transient flowers ; the second, sedgy grass-like plants, more curious than useful ; and the 
third, the proper grasses, an order which contributes more extensively and effectually to the support of man 
and domestic animals than any other, and, unless we except Lolium temulentum, containing no poisonous plant. 
The genera of the grasses, Sir J. E. Smith observes, are not easily defined. Schreber and Dr. Host among the 
Germans, and Stillingfleet and Curtis, and more recently, Mr. R. Brown, in this country, have paid much attention 
to the order ; but it is among the French that the greatest improvements have been made in the arrangement 
and distribution of the genera. The principal graminologists in that country have been Messrs. Desvaux, 
Palisot de Beauvois, and Kunth, each of whom has divided the Linnasan genera into many others ; the greater 
part of which have been admitted by other botanists, and are consequently adopted here. It must, however, be 
confessed, that if much has been done in remodelling the grasses, yet more remains to be effected ; and that 
much more perspicuity and clearness of definition will be required before their arrangement can be said even 
to approach perfection. In describing the essential characters, the phraseology of the continental botanists has 
been adopted. This not being very familiar to readers in this country, the following explanation of terms 
may be useful. 
The parts here called Glumce are the Calyx of Linnaeus. 
Palece . . . Corolla. 
Scale . . . Nectart/. 
The terms calyx and corolla applied to the floral envelopes of grasses are improper, as they are not analogous 
to those organs in other plants, but are rather to be considered as a form of BracteEe, as are also the inner scales, 
called Nectarium by Linna;us. It has been considered by some writers, proper to place all the grasses in 
Triandria, without reference to the number of their stamens ; but this is manifestly improper, as the whole 
merit of the artificial system depends upon its principles being closely followed; The grasses not in this class 
are to be found in Monandria, Diandria, Hexandria, and Polygamia. The grasses, in an ceconominal point of 
view, have been scientifically experimented on by Sir H. Davy, and Mr. Sinclair, the duke of Bedford's gar- 
dener at Woburn. 
Galaxia and Ferraria, which Persoon has placed in this class, we have, with Willdenow, placed in Monadel- 
phia. Tigridia will also be found there. The following plants are Triandrous, but as they belong to very na- 
tural genera, botanists have deemed it better not to separate them. 
MONOGYNIA. Narcissus triandrus. Juncus conglomeratus and eflbsus. Rivina brasiliensis, and some 
species of Amaranthus, &c. Galium trifidum, some Asperulas, Melothria, Laurus triandra, Fagara spinosa 
and acuminata, Hirtella triandra, Tradescantia multiflora. 
DIGYNl A. Tripsacum hermaphroditum, some species of Ehrharta, &c. 
TRIGYNIA. Tilleea muscosa, Elatine triandra, Stellaria media, some species of Xanthox.ylum, Triplaris 
americana, &c. 
Order 1. MONOGYNIA. 3 Stamens. 1 Style. 
1. Flowers with Calyx and Corolla distinct ; or with a trifid Corolla only. 
78. Valeriana. Cal. very small, finally enlarged into a feathery pappus. Corolla monopetalous, 5-lobed, re- 
gular, gibbous at the base. Capsule 1-celled. 
79. Patrinia. Cal. very small, finally enlarged into an irregularly and obsoletely toothed rim. Corolla mo. 
nopetalous, 5-lobed, regular, gibbous at the base. Capsule 3-celled, supported on one side by an oval membra- 
nous bractea. Stamens variable. (3 or 5.) 
80. Valerianella. Cal. very small, finally becoming a straight rim. Cor. monopetalous 5-fid, regular. Cap- 
sule 3-celled. 
81. Calymenia. Cal. 5-fid campanulate. Cor. funnel-shaped. Nut 1 -seeded, surrounded by the enlarged 
calyx. 
82. Loeflingia. Cal. 5-leaved, the leaves 2-toothed at the base. Cor. of 5 petals, which are very minute and 
connivent. Stigma 3-ple. Caps. 1-celled, 3-valved, many-seeded. 
83. Hippocratea. Cal. 5-leaved, very small. Pet. 5 dilated at the base, hooded at the end. Nut fleshy, bear- 
ing the stamens. Caps. 3, compressed, 2-valved, opening in the middle, 1-ceUed, with 2-5 compressed winged 
seeds. 
84. Cneorum. Cal. 3-4-toothed, persistent, small. Pet. 3-4 equal. Stigma 3-fid. Drupes 3 or 4 clustered, 
dry. 
85. Comocladia. Cal. 3-parted. Pet. 3, larger than the calyx. Drupe with 3 spots at the end, and a mem- 
branous 1-seeded nut. (Stamens and petals vary to 4.) ^ „ , , , ^ , „ „ 
86. liyris. Cal. 3-valved, cartilaginous, clustered in a head. Cor. 3-petaled, equal. Caps. 1-3-celled, 
3-valved. Stigma 3-fid. , . ^ „ , ^ ^ ^ 
87. Callisia. Calyx 3-leaved. Petals 3. Anthers double. Capsule superior, 2-ceUed, 2-seeded, compressed. 
Stigmas 3, finely divided. ^ • , ^ .r, 
88. Commelina. Cal. 3-leavcd. Pet. 3. Filaments 3 or 4-sterile, furnished with crossing glands. Caps. 2-3- 
ceUed. Seeds fixed to the valves. ^ » « o ^- • •, 
89. Aneilema. Like Commelina, but no involucrum. Stamens 6. Anthers 3, sometimes 2-4, dissimilar. 
90. Cartonema. Cor. persistent : the 3 outer leaves calycine. Stamens persistent, beardless. Seeds 2. 
2. Flowers with a 5-parted Calyx, and no Corolla. 
91. Ortegia. Cal. 5-leaved. Stigma headed. Caps. 1-celled, 3-valved at the end. Seeds many, affixed to the 
bottom of the capsule. Stigma 1-3. 
92. Polycnemum. Cal. 5-leaved. Seed 1, in an utriculus. 
3. Flowers 6-parted, coloured : the Calyx and Corolla not distinct. 
93 Crocus. Spatha usually 2-valved- Flower funnel-shaped, regular : the outer segments largest. Tube 
very long, partly under ground. Stigma deeply trifid, with convolute segments. ^ „ „ ^ 
94. Witsenia. Flower tubular, with a 6-parted limb. Stigma slightly trifid or emargmate. Caps. 3-celled, 
"^95.^/xf^^'^'spatha 2-valved. Flower with a slender tube and regular limb. Stigmas 3, narrow, recurved. 
^^S' THchonenil]^' Spatha 2-valved. Hower with a very short tube and an equal regular limb. FUamenU 
pubescent. Stigmas 3, 2-parted. , , ,. . .r.^ , • ,. j 
97. GeissorMxa. Spatha 2-valved. Flower tubular, with a 6-parted spreading regular limb. Style mcUned. 
^IFs!' HSperantha!^%pi^th?i 2-valved. Flower tubular, with a 6-parted regular limb. Stigmas 3, divided as far 
down as the tube. Caps, oblong 3.cornered. 
