310 
iny treatment of the Andropogoneci', but it might well be argued that if 
Digitaria Scop., of the Panicew is worthy of generic rank, then, surely, 
other snbgenera of Paniciun such as Echinochloa, Ptycophylliiin, and 
II yinenachne, and the more characteristic subgenera of Andropogon are 
also worthy of it. In this connection it is Sufficient to state that if, at the 
present time, there existed a monograph of the Panicea’ or of any other tribe 
of Graminece, treating such tribe or tribes as Hackel does the Andropogo- 
ncce, I should doubtless have followed such work or works in the sequence 
of genera and species. However, in the matter of a local flora, it is 
sometimes a decided convenience to consider some sections of large 
genera as distinct and of generic rank, whereas, because of intermediate 
forms it might prove impracticable, in a monograph covering the entire 
world, to regard such groups as distinct. 
It has been found impossible, because of insufficient material, to treat 
the Banihjisew at this time with any degree of completeness or satisfac- 
tion. In this tribe most of tbe species flower but rarely and at very 
long intervals, while in most cases lioth mature flowers and fruits are 
essential to work out properly the various species and their relation- 
ships. Characters presented by the culm-sheaths are of considerable 
importance in classification, but many collectors ignore these organs, 
while notes as to size and hal)it are apt to be short and incomplete. The 
scandent bamboos appear to flower at much shorter intervals than do 
the erect ones, ap])arently in some cases {Sckizophylhrm acutiflorum 
IMunro) annually. During four and one-half years’ experience in the 
Philippines I have seen but three species of arborescent bamboos iir 
flower, and in two of these the flowering was apparently due to culm- 
injuries, and was not normal. At most, at the present time there are 
in our herbarium, in flower, l)ut five species of erect bandjoos, but the 
number of different sj^ecies actually growing in the Philippines is rather 
large, and doiddless will approximate 15 or 30. 
Economically the Gmininea^ is the most important family of plants, 
and this fact applies to the Philip]hnes as well as to other parts of 
the world. Pice {Oryza sntim Linn.) is our most important cereal, and 
it is grown, with many cultural forms and varieties, throughout the 
Philippines. Corn (Zea mays Linn.), introduced from America at an 
early date by the Spaniards, is at present the only other cereal of im- 
portance grown in the Archijielago. Of minor importance is the culture 
of Italian millet {Petaria italica Beauv. ) locally known as Daica or Dava, 
occasionally the true millet {Pauicum miJiaceiim Linn.), locally known 
as Vahng, and sorghum (AmJropogon sorghum Brot.) locally known as 
Pntad. In the past, according to early re])orts, wheat {T'riticwm vidgare 
^'ill.) was somewhat planted in northern Luzon, but its culture in the 
Archi])elago has now been discontinued. Of great commercial im- 
portance to the Philippines, is the culture of sugar cane (Saccharum 
offiemurum Linn.) . 
