150 CLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY. 
sperma, Uncinia, and Oreobolus are genera almost or quite confined to 
the Southern Hemisphere ; the other genera are world-wide in their dis- 
tribution. The so-called “ cutting-grasses ’ are mostly members of this 
order. The plants of the genus Uncinia are remarkable from the occur- 
rence in the female flowers of a long rigid hooked bristle, which arises 
within the utricle from its base, and which serves as a very perfect means 
of distributing the seeds. 
None of the plants of the order are of any considerable economic 
importance. 
Order XIII. Gramines. 
Herbs, usually tufted, with cylindrical or compressed stem, 
which is jointed, and usually hollow between the joints. 
Leaves alternate, distichous, narrow, sheath split to the base, 
usually furnished with a ligule. Inflorescence of spikelets 
arranged in spikes, racemes, or panicles; each spikelet con- 
sisting of a pair of bracts (empty glumes) enclosing one or more 
flowering-glumes, which, however, are also sometimes empty. 
Flowers usually %, more rarely unisexual. Flowering-glume 
unequally nerved or keeled, often furnished with an awn; 
inner glume, or palea, flat and 2-nerved, enclosed by the flower- 
ing-glume. Perianth reduced to 2 (rarely 0 or 3) minute, 
often oblique scales (lodicules). Stamens 3 (rarely 1, 2, 4, 6, 
or more), with capillary filaments and 2-celled versatile pendu- 
lous anthers. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 erect ovule; styles 2, 
with feathery or hairy stigmas. Fruit a caryopsis, the seed 
adhering closely to the pericarp, and sometimes to the palea. 
Seed with floury albumen; embryo outside the base of the 
endosperm. (Pp. 101-103, figs. 204-207.) 
Grasses form one of the most natural of the orders of flowering plants. 
Their number (as is the case in all difficult orders) is variously estimated, 
but Bentham (‘‘ Genera Plantarum ’’) considers there are about 300 genera 
and 3,200 species. They are distributed over all parts of the globe. In 
New Zealand we have 30 gerera and about 80 species. Many of these 
are endemic, but others are common in Australia or South America, 
while others, again, are very widespread. Arwndo conspicua (Toi-toi grass) 
is endemic, and is the largest species in these islands. Other striking 
endemic species are Danthonia cunninghamit, D. raoulii, and D. flavescens 
(the latter often called Snow-grass), Poa foliosa, P. colensoi, and 
P. lindsayi, and Gymnostichum gracile, the latter closely allied to a 
North American species. 
The order contains an immense number of useful plants. The genera 
Poa (Meadow-grasses), Loliwm (Rye-grass), Alopecurus (Foxtail), Phlewm 
(Timothy or Cat’s-tail), Dactylis (Cocksfoot), and Festuca (Fescue) furnish 
the most important of the pasture-grasses. The relative values of the 
various New Zealand species for pasturage purposes have not been fully 
investigated yet. The cereal grasses include Wheat (Tritecwm), Rye 
(Secale), Barley (Hordewm), Oats (Avena), Rice (Oryza), Millet (Panicwm), 
Maize (Zea), Sorghwm, &c. Several species yield sugar, in particular the 
Sugar-cane (Saccharum). The Bamboo (Bambusa of many species). 
serves for an infinity of purposes to the inhabitants of southern and 
south-eastern Asia, 
