52 
TRIANDRIA. 
N° of 
Species Im, 
N° Genera. 
Growth. 
species. Native of 
Britain. 
2d. Flowers 
two-flowered, straggling. 
63 Aira 
h 
13 Europe 
Brit. 7 
64 Melica* * 
h 
7 Europe 
Brit. 3 
65 Perotis 
h 
1 E. Indies 
3d. 
Flozvers many-flozoered, straggling. 
66 Avenaf 
h 
21 Siberia 
Brit. 6 
67 Arundel 
. s & h 
6 Europe 
Brit, 4 
68 Briza 
h 
5 Europe 
Brit. 2 
69 Bromus 
h 
26 Europe 
Brit. i% 
70 Festuca^ 
h 
19 Europe 
Brit. 11 
71 Poa 
h 
34 Europe 
BBt. 14 
72 Uniola 
li 
4 Carolina 
saccharinum; in New Spain it is procured from the agave americana; it is like- 
%ise obtained from asclepias syriaca 9 and zea mays $ inKamshatska it is produced 
from heracleum syphondylium, and fucus saccharinus —The museum of natural 
history at Paris, has received several plants of the violet sugar cane frdm Batavia, 
and the vjhits from Otaheite, which are said 40 yield a greater product than the 
common sort in the West Indies.; 
* In melica , the rudiment of a third floret, standing upon a little footstalk be¬ 
tween the other two florets, gives the essential character. 
fin avena* the essential character consists in the jointed twisted awn, growing 
from the back of the corolla.— Avena sativa (the common oat) which hath three 
varieties, black, white, and brown,,is described as having two seeds in a calyx, but 
the white oat hath generally only one. The wild oat favena fatuaj is described as 
having three flowers in a calyx, but in England it hath generally only two seeds. 
*The drug in high estimation in India, as a refrigerant, called tabasheer , is said 
to be contained in the joints of the arundo bambos: and the arundo donaoc is im¬ 
ported into England principally from Spain, to be manufactured into weavers’ slaies* 
The instruments used by the Turks and Persians,- &c. in writing their beautiful 
manuscripts are formed of an Egyptian reed ('arundo calamagrostisj which is much 
properer than our pens, to make those exquisitely fine strokes and flourishes, in 
which eastern manuscripts so greatly abound.—It is said that the male and female 
bamboo always grow together, and if one is felled, the other very soon dies. 
§The seeds o i festuca jluitans (flote fesure grass) are gathered yearly in Poland, 
and from thence sent into Germany, and even to Sweden, and sold under the name 
of manna seeds, from their sweet and agreeable flavour. They are much used at the 
tables of the great, on account of their nutritious quality and pleasant taste. They 
make an excellent foundation for soup and puddings; and their mucilage, prepared 
with sugar and white wine, makes an excellent nourishment for invalids. 
A practical Treatise on Diet , by Wm, Nisbet, M. D* 1801. 
