( ) 
formly a fimple, ftraight, unbranched, hol- 
low item, ftrengthened with knots at certain 
intervals; this, which is commonly called 
the ftraw in corn, is termed by Linneus the 
Culm. At each knot there is always a fmgle 
leaf, which ferves as a fheath to the flem to 
fome diftance ; when it fpreads out into a 
long narrow furface, of equal breadth all the 
way, till it approaches the end, where it 
draws off gradually to a point. The leaf is 
invariably entire in every fpecies, has neither 
veins nor branching veffels, being only 
marked longitudinally with lines parallel to 
the fides, and to a nerve or ridge, that runs 
the whole length of it. Another curious cir~ 
cumftance, almoft peculiar to this tribe of 
plants, and common to them all, is the feed 
not fplitting when it germinates, but conti- 
nuing entire, till the young plant is fufficiently 
nourifhed by it's mealy fubftance to feek it's 
own food ; at which time there remains of 
the parent feed only the dry hufk. Thefe 
plants are termed by Linneus one-cotyledoned, 
or one-lobed. In wheat this may be well 
feen ; and if the feed is prefTed betwixt the 
fingers, when the plume has rifen an inch or 
two above the ground, it will be plainly 
P 3 perceptible 
