TRIO'DIA *. Linnean Class and Order. TRIA'NDRIA †, DIGY'NIA. Natural Order. GRAMI'NEE, Juss. Gen. Pl. p. 28.-Sm. Gram. of Bot. p. 86.; Engl. Fl. v. i. p. 71.-Lindl. Syn. p. 293.; Introd. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 292.-Rich. by Macgilliv. p. 393.-Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 542.-Mack. Fl. Hibern. p. 294.-Hook. Brit. Fl. (4th edit.) p. 426.—Gramina, Linn.-GRAMINALES; sect. FESTUCINE; type, AVENACEA; Burn. Outl. of Bot. v. i. pp. 359, and 369. GEN. CHAR. Panicle somewhat racemose. Calyx (fig. 1.) of 2 nearly equal, clasping, awnless, pointed, egg-shaped, concave, keeled glumes, containing an egg-shaped, imbricated, tumid spikelet (see fig. 2.), about its own length, of several 2-ranked, perfect florets (see figs. 2 & 3.), variously hairy at the base (see fig. 3.), but without any complicated web. Corolla (fig. 2.) of 2, rather unequal, egg-shaped, rigid, concave paleæ, closely pressed together transversely; the outer obscurely many-ribbed, not keeled; flat and expanded at the edges; deeply cloven at the summit, with an intermediate dorsal tooth, or awn, longer or shorter than the lateral points; inner smaller, lining the cavity of the outer, fringed; cloven or notched at the point. Nectary (fig. 5.) of 2 scales. Filaments (see fig. 3.) 3, hair-like. Anthers prominent, pendulous. Germen (see fig. 4.) oval, flat. Styles (see fig. 4.) 2, short, distinct. Stigmas cylindrical, feathery. Seed (see figs. 6-8.) loose, oval, depressed, convex on the outside, concave on the inner, closely pressed between the unchanged paleæ. The somewhat racemose panicle; the calyx of 2 nearly equal glumes, containing 3 or more florets; and the corolla of 2 paleæ, the outer one with 3 nearly equal teeth, the middle one of which is straight; will distinguish this from other genera in the same class and order. One species British. TRIO'DIA DECUMBENS. Decumbent Heath-Grass, SPEC. CHAR. Panicle nearly simple, close, upright Calyxglumes smooth, containing about 4 florets; the middle tooth of their paleæ shortest. Ligula a tuft of hairs. Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 111.-Sm. Engl. Fl. v. i. p. 131.-With. (7th ed.) v. ïi. p. 174.-Hook. Brit. Fl. p. 44.-Lindl. Syn. p. 311.-Sincl. Hort. Gram. Wob. p. 377.-Fl. Devon. p. 17.-Johnst. Fl. Berw. v. i. p. 24.-Winch's Fl. of Northumb. and Durh. p. 6.-Walker's Fl. of Oxf. p. 24.- Bab. Fl. Bath. pp. 57 and 100.Murr. Northern Fl. p. 65.-Dick. Fl. Abred. p. 24.-Irv. Lond. Fl. p. 98.-Baines' Fl. of Yorksh. p. 120.-Mack. Fl. Hibern. p. 306.-Danthonia decumbens, D.C.Macr. Man. Brit. Bot. p. 268.-Bab. Prim. Fl. Sarn. p. 109.-Leight. Fl. Shropsh. p. 53. Festuca decumbens, Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 110.-Leers' Fl. Herb. p. 34. t. 7. f. 5.-Fl. Dan. t. 162.-With. 1st ed. v. i. p. 53.; 2nd ed. v. i. p. 101.-Huds. FL Angl. (2nd ed.). p. 47.-Willd. Sp. Pl. v. i. pt. 1. p. 424.-Lightf. Fl. Scot. v. i. Fig. 1. Calyx.-Fig. 2. Spikelet.-Fig. 3. and Stigmas.-Fig. 5. Nectary,-Figs. 6, or less magnified. A Floret.-Fig. 4. Germen, Styles, & 8. Seeds.-All, except fig. 6, more *From treis, Gr. three; and odous, Gr a tooth; alluding to the three teeth of the paleæ. See folio 56, note †. p 102.-Sibth. Fl. Oxon. p. 46. --Abbot's Fl. Bedf. p. 22.—Poa decumbens. With. (3rd ed.) v. ii. p. 147.—Engl. Bot. t. 792 -Knapp's Gr. Brit. t. 59.-Sm. Fl. Brit. v. i. p. 107. With. (5th ed.) v. ii. p. 194.--Thomps. Pl. Berw. p. 12.-Davies' Welsh Bot. p. 10.-Host. Gr. Austr. v. ii. p. 52. t. 72.—l'urt. Midl. Fl. v. i. p. p. 81.—Relh. Fl. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 37.—Hook. Fl. Scot. p 36.-Grev. Fl. Edin. p. 24.--Perry's Pl. Varvic. Sel. p. 9.-Mack. Catal. Pl. of Irel. p. 14-Melica decumbens, Web. Gott. p. 3.- Gramen avenaceum parvum procumbens, paniculis non aristatis, Ray's Syn p. 408.- Pluk. Phyt. t. 34. f. 1.— Gramen triticeum palustre humilius, spicâ breviore, Moris. v. iii. p. 177. sect. 8. t. 1. f. 6. LOCALITIES. In bogs, barren sandy pastures, and on heaths, both in dry and moist situations; frequent. Perennial.-Flowers in July and August. Root slightly creeping, fibrous. Culms from 4 to 18 inches long, decumbent, except when in flower, harsh, rigid, jointed, leafy, striated, and smooth. Leaves strap-shaped, taper-pointed, striated, rather glaucous, smooth, except towards the point, where the rib and edges are very rough. Sheaths long, striated, hairy especially near the top, entirely divided. Ligula (stipula) a tuft of hairs (see fig. 9). Panicle very simple, its branches angular, wavy and roughish. Spikelets few, turgid, of a violet tinge, containing about 4 florets. Calyx-glumes spear-shaped, equal, with a roughish keel. The Corolla (see fig. 3.) has two or more dense tufts of shining bristles at its base, with two intermediate depressions. Outer Palea with three teeth at the apex, the middle one shortest. Mr. SINCLAIR says, that this Grass appears to be but little susceptible of improvement by being transplanted to a richer soil; that it never appeared to be cropped by the Deer in the Park at Woburn ; and that it is late in the production of foliage in the Spring, and produces little after-grass, aud is not, therefore, to be recommended for cultivation. The Natural Order GRAMINFA is composed of glumaceous monocotyledonous plants, with cylindrical, fistular stems (culms), closed at the joints, and covered with a coat of silex. Their leaves are alternate, one at each joint, with a sheath slit longitudinally on one side, having a membranous appendage (ligula) at its summit. Their flowers are small, and are disposed in spikes, panicles, or acemes, which are more or less branched; they are usually perfect, but sometimes monœcious or polygamous, and consist of imbricated bracteas, of which the most exterior are called glumes (calyx, Linn.) (fig. 1.), the interior immediately enclosing the stamens Palea (corolla, Linn) (fig. 2.), and the innermost at the base of the ovary scales (nectary, Linn (fig. 5.). The glumes are usually 2 in number, and alternate; sometimes single, most commonly unequal, and enclose 1 or many florets (see fig. 2). The florets (fig. 3) consist of 2 alternate palea, the lower or exterior one simple, the upper or interior one composed of 2 united by their contiguous margins, and usually with two keels. The nectary, when present, consists of 2 scales (see fig. 5.), which are collateral, alternate with the paleæ, and next the lower of them; either distinct or united. The stamens are hypogynous (situated below the germen). The anthers are versatile; the ovary is single; with 2, very rarely 1 or 3, styles; and feathery or hairy stigmas. The pericarp usually forms one body with the seed; and the embryo is lateral, on one side at the base of the farinaceous albumen. See Lindl. Syn. and Hook. Brit. Fl., 4th edit. This family is one of the most natural in the vegetable kingdom, and also one of the highest importance to mankind, as it is composed of the true Grasses; among which are wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize, panick, rice, millet, &c. It is exemplified in the following plates of this work; viz.-t. 45-56-59-64-68-99104-108-112-116-144-148-184-192-200-203-208-211-216-247252-256-288-292-300-324-332-344-348-372-408-412-416-444 448-462-476-480-488-492-496. MYRICA*. Linnean Class and Order DIE'CIAT,, TETRAN'DRIA. Natural Order. MYRI'CEE, Rich.-Lindl. Syn. p. 242.; Intr. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 100.-Rich. by Macgilliv. p. 543.-Mack. Fl. Hibern. p. 257.-Hook. Brit. Fl. (4th ed.) p. 420.—MYRICA'CEE, Lindl. Key, p. 57.-Loud. Ency. of Tr. and Sh. p. 934.CASUARINEE, Mirbel. in Ann. Mus. v. xvi. p. 451.-R. Brown, in Flinder's Voy. v. ii. p. 571.-AMENTACEE, Linn.-Juss. Gen. Pl. p. 407.-Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 534 & 535. stamens. GEN. CHAR. Diacious, occasionally monacious. Sterile Flowers in cylindrical sessile catkins (see fig. 1, & a.), loosely imbricated in every direction. Calyx (see fig. 2.) a single, egg-shaped, bluntish, concave scale (bractea LOUD.) to each floret, longer than the Corolla none. Filaments (see fig. 2.) 4, rarely more, short, hair-like, upright, Anthers (see figs. 2 & 3.) vertical, large, of 2 divided lobes.-Fertile Flowers in egg-shaped, sessile catkins, closely imbricated (see fig. 4, & b). Calyx (see fig. 5.) nearly as in the sterile flowers. Corolla none. Germen (see fig. 6.) eggshaped, flattish, superior. Styles (see figs. 5 & 6.) 2, thread-shaped, spreading, longer than the calyx (bractea). Stigma simple, pointed. Berry (Drupe, LINDL.) (see figs. 8 & 9.) various in substance, of 1 cell. Seed (fig. 10.) solitary, upright. The egg-shaped, sessile catkins, with concave scales; the sterile flowers with from 4 to 6 stamens, with 4-valved anthers; and the fertile flowers with 2 styles, and a 1-celled, 1-seeded berry; will distinguish this from other genera, without a corolla, in the same class and order. One species British. MYRICA GALE. Sweet Gale. Candleberry Myrtle. Dutch Myrtle. Sweet Willow. Gaule. SPEC. CHAR. Stem shrubby. Leaves spear-shaped, broader upwards, distantly serrated in the upper part. Scales of the catkin pointed. Engl. Bot. t. 562.-Fl. Dan. p. 327.-Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 1453.-Hud. Fl. Angl. (2nd ed.) p. 432.-Willd Sp. Pl. v. iv. pt. II. p. 745.-Sm. Fl. Brit. v. iii. p. 1076; Engl. Fl. v. iv. p. 239.-With. (7th ed.) v. ii. p. 250.-Lindl. Syn. p. 242.-Hook. Brit. Fl. p. 435.-Macr. Man. Brit. Bot. p. 217.-Lightf. Fl. Scot. v. ii. p. 613.Thomps. Pl. of Berw. p. 96.-Davies' Welsh Bot. p. 94.-Pursh. Fl. Amer. Sept. v. ii. p. 620.- Relh. Fl. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 407.-Hook. Fl. Scot. p. 288.-Fl. Dev. pp. 159 & 135-Johnst. Fl. Berw. v. i. p. 219.-Winch's Fl. of Northumb. and Durh. p. 64.-Loud. Arb. et Frutic. Brit. v. iv. p. 2056. f. 1966.; Ency. of Tr. and Sh. p. 934. f. 1742.-Dick. Fl. Abred. p. 58.-Irv. Lond. Fl. p. 115.-Baines' Fl. of Yorksh. p. 94.-Leight. Fl. of Shrop. p. 493.--Mack. Catal. of Pl. of Irel. p. 85.; Fl. Hibern. p. 257.-Myrica Brabantica, Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 249.- Gale frutex odoratus Septentrionalium, Eleagnus Cordo, Ray's Syn. p. 443.Bauh. Hist. v. i. pt. II. p. 224, with a figure.-Black. Sp. Bot. p. 25.-Myrtus brabantica, sive Elæagnus Cordi, Johns. Ger. p. 1414, with a figure.- Merr. Pin. p 82.- Rhus sylvestris sive Myrtus Brabantica vel Anglica, Park.Theat. Bot. p. 1451, f. 5. Fig. 1, & a. Sterile Catkins.-Fig. 2. A separate Flower.-Fig. 3. An Anther.Fig. 4, & b. Fertile Catkins.-Fig. 5. A separate Flower.-Fig. 6. Styles.-Fig. 7. Fertile Ripe Catkins.-Fig. 8. A Berry.-Fig. 9. Section of same.-Fig. 10. A Seed:-All, except a, b, and figs. 7, 8, 9, & 10, magnified. • From muron, Gr. sweet ointment; in reference to its fragrance. |