miscarries. 
of the front segment of the outer limb, and consequently 
opposite to the label. Filament commonly broad and re- 
sembling a petal, often extended beyond the anther by an 
appendage, which is sometimes entire, sometimes 3-lobed. 
_ Anther fixed to the front of the filament, with two separate 
parallel bilocular lobes that burst along their axis, where 
their inflected edges are inserted into a partition that finally 
disappears: each lobe frequently stands apart at the base 
from the filament, and sometimes ends ina spur. Rudi- 
mentary corpuscles (suppressed stamens) two, diminutive, 
-eylindrical, standing on each side the base of the style (or in 
Cosrus ascending to its summit: see our obs. in foll. 665 
and 683. vol. 8), sometimes united, seldom entirely want- 
ing. Germen 3-celled with many-seeded cells, sometimes 
_ Separated by imperfect partitions. Ovules attached along 
the inner corner, of the cells in a double row. Style filiform, 
ascending the groove in the filament. Stigma widened 
crossways, hollow. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valyed, many-seed- 
ed, sometimes with a thick fleshy rind like a berry: parti- 
fiom usually,.central, inserted along the axis of the valves, 
from which in many cases they differ in substance and are 
finally detached. Seeds roundish, in most instances pressed 
by one another into an angular shape; with or without an 
arillus. Albumen of a mealy substance, rayed throughout 
and falling short at the umbilicus. Vitellus fleshy, in- 
clining to funnelform, placed at the point opposite to the 
umbilicus, generally (if not constantly). perforated at the 
bottom for the passage of the radicle. Embryo one-cotyle- 
doned, somewhat cylindrical, sheathed by the vitellus, to 
Which however it does not adhere. Radicle reaching al- 
- most to the umbilical point, commonly naked, being. en- 
closed neither within the yitellus nor the albumen. _ 
The order is composed of perennial herbaceous plants, belonging prin- 
cipally to tropical countries, and seldom extending themselves so far as the 
4th degree of latitude. Stem simple, and sometimes very short. Leaves 
simple, with a single nerve and numerous acute angular quite simple thickset 
veins, -Petiolea sheath, sometimes split down one side, at the other length- 
ened in the form of a ligula (an appendage peculiar to the Grasses), or 
Sometimes not; in some cases there is no fissure, and the sheath extends 
beyond the insertion of the leafstalk in the form of ‘an ocrea (or gaiterlike 
appendage. Jnflorescence at times a close spike, at others a bunch or ra- 
ceme, seldom inclining to the nature of a panicle, frequently terminates the 
Stem or scape, rarely issues from the side. General bractes either perma- 
_ nent or caducous: partial ones spathaceous obconically convolute, in most 
instances two-flowered, one flower opening before the other, which often 
- The essential characteristics of this natural grow may be summed up in 
“the twofold floral envelope (double perianth), solitary stamen, and seed 
with a vitellus.” “i 
