FLORA OF TROPICAL AFRICA. 
Order CLVIL GRAMINEJE. 
(By 0. Stapf.) 
Partial inflorescences (spikelets) consisting of an axis (rhachilla) 
and, typically, of 3 or more alternate, distichous, more or less hetero- 
morphous bracts, of which the two lowest (glumes) form an involucre 
to the spikelet and are empty, whilst the following (valves) bear in 
their axils subsessile flowers, subtended by a usually hyaline 2- 
keeled or 2-nerved dorsal bract (valvule : palea of other authors) ; 
valves differing usually in structure and size from the glumes, and 
forming with the valvule and the flower proper false flowers (florets), 
which are alike or different in structure and sex, and often more or 
less reduced toward the top of the spikelet. Flowers hermaphro- 
dite, or unisexual (often with the rudiments of the other sex), con- 
sisting of 3 or, usually, of 2 (anterior) minute hyaline or fleshy, 
nerved or nerveless scales (lodicules), representing a perianth, and 
of stamens or of a pistil, or of both. Stamens usually 3, rarely 6, 4, 
2, or 1, very rarely more, hypogynous ; filaments very slender, 
nearly always free ; anthers versatile, consisting of 2 parallel cells, 
opening longitudinally by a slit, rarely by a terminal pore. Ovary 
entire, 1 -celled ; styles 2, lateral, rarely 3 or 1, free or more or less 
united, sometimes very short ; stigmas as many as the styles, with 
simple or branched stigmatic hairs, exserted from the sides or the 
top of the florets ; ovule 1, anatropous, often more or less adnate 
to the posterior side of the carpel. Fruit with the thin pericarp 
adnate to the seed (caryopsis, grain ; rarely a delicate dehiscing or 
rupturing utricle enclosing a free seed, still more rarely a nut or a 
berry), with 2 marks, an anterior indicating the position of the 
embryo, and a posterior (hilum), free within the valve and valvule, 
or adhering to the latter, rarely to both, usually forming with them 
a false fruit which becomes free by the disarticulation of the rha- 
chilla. Seed erect ; albumen copious, starchy ; embryo usually 
small on the anterior face at the base of and outside the albumen ; 
cotyledon shield-like (scutellum), closely attached by its inner side 
FL. TROP. AFR. VOL. IX. 
B 
