314 
]3aniculate, consisting of si^ikelets composed of two to many 2-ranked 
imbricated bracts (glumes), the two lowest normally empty, one or 
both of these sometimes wanting or very mnch reduced. One or more 
of the upper glumes except sometimes the terminal ones contains in the 
axil a flower which is iisually inclosed by the bract like palea. Flowers 
perfect or staminate, sometimes dioecious or monoecious, subtended by 1 
to 3 minute hyaline scales (lodicules). Stamens 1 to 6, usually 3; anthers 
2-celled, versatile. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled ; styles 1 to 3, commonly 2 ; 
stigmas hairy or plumose. Fruit a seed-like grain (caryopsis). 
Genera about 335 ; species about 3,500, widely distril>uted in all parts 
of the world, the greater number of species being found in the Tropics 
but the greater numl)er of individuals being found in temperate regions. 
KEY TO THE TUIBES AND GENERA. 
1. Spikelets one, rarely two-flowered, lower flower when present 
imperfect, falling from the pedicel entire or with certain joints 
of the rhachis at maturity. Rhachilla not produced beyond 
the flowers. 
2. Spikelets cylindrical or somewhat dorsally compressed ; 
empty glumes manifest : hilum punctiform. 
3. Flowering glumes and palea hyaline, much more 
delicate in structure than the thick-membranous 
to cartilaginous empty glumes. 
4. Spikelets unisexual on separate inflores- 
cences or on different parts of the same 
inflorescence I. Mayde.?: 
4. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, one pedicel- 
late in the same inflorescence, the former 
perfect, the latter staminate or empty, 
rarely perfect ^ II. Andropogone.® 
3. Flowering glumes, at least of the perfect flower, 
similar in texture to the empty glumes or fre- 
quently thicker, never hyaline and thin. 
4. Flowering glume and palea membranous. 
5. Inflorescence spicate ; spikelets fall- 
ing singly or in groups, the first 
glume usually larger than the rest.. III. ZoisiE.tB 
5. Inflorescence paniculate : spikelets de- 
ciduous singly from the ultimate 
branchlets of the inflorescence, the 
first glume usually smaller or nar- 
rower than the rest IV. Tristbginb,^ 
4. Flowering glume and palea chartaceous, car- 
tilaginous, or coriaceous, very different 
in color and appearance from the empty 
glumes V. Panice.^: 
2. Spikelets much compressed laterally ; empty glumes none 
or rudimentary : hilum linear VI. Oryze.45 
1. Spikelets one to many flowered, the empty glumes persistent, 
the rachilla generally articulated above the empty glumes 
and produced beyond the upper glume, the upper glumes fre- 
quently empty, 
2. Stems herbaceous ; leaf-blades sessile, not articulated with 
the sheath. 
3. Spikelets pedicellate in panicles, spike-like panicles 
or racemes. 
4. Spikelets one-flowered. 
5. Empty glumes four ; palea one- 
nerved VII. Phalaride.®} 
5. Empty glumes two ; palea two-nerved.. VIII. Agrostide.^ 
