Flora Medica

GRAMINACEJE.spathe to each pair of spikes. Flowers on the body of the rachis inpairs one awned, hermaphrodite, and sessile ; ;the other awnless, male,and pedicelled ;the terminal florets are 3, 1 hermaphrodite, sessile, andawned, the other 2 male, pedicelled and awnless. Hermaphrodite.Glumes 2, 1-flowered, at the base surrounded with wool, as are also therachis, and proper pedicels. Paleae 2, fringed ;the inner 2-parted, witha short arista in the fissure. Scales 2, minute, embracing the ovarylaterally. Male glumes as in the hermaphrodite. Palea single.This has been said to yield grass oil ;but Dr. Royle denies it : seeNo. 1303.1302. A. Schoenanthus Linn, sp.pl. 1481. Vent. eels. t. 89.Roxb.fi. ind. i. 274. Kunth. agrost. 493. xii. t.(Rheede 72.Rumph. v. t. 72. f. 2.) E^oivo?, Dioscorides. Arabia, only cultivatedin India Roxb. (Lemon Grass.)Perennial, erect. Panicle somewhat secund, linear, leafy. Spikeletsin pairs. Common pedicel furnished with a spathe, and partialpedicels and spathes. Florets all awnless. Male floret with only1 valve. Fresh leaves much used in India as a substitute for tea.The full grown leaves roasted are considered by Indian practitionersas an excellent stomachic. The whole plant has an aromatic bitterflavour.1303. A. Calamus aromaticus Royle essay p. 34. KaXa^o?apupa.TiY.oi;, Dioscorides. India.Known only from a short note by Dr. Royle, who states that it,and not A. Ivarancussa, produces the fragrant and stimulant Grass oilof Namur, and who conjectures it to have been the " sweet cane " andthe " rich aromatic reed from a far country " of Scripture. It is usedin India as an external application in rheumatism, in the same way asIt isCajeputi.also given as a stimulant.SACCHARUM.Spikelets all fertile, in pairs, the one sessile, the other stalked,articulated at the base, 2-flowered ;the lower floret neuter, with1 palea, the upper ^ with 2 paleae. Glumes 2, membranous.Paleae transparent, awnless ; those of the minute, unequal.Stamens 3.Ovary smooth. Styles 2, long ; stigmasfeathered, with simple toothletted hairs. Scales 2, obscurely2- or 3-lobed at the point, distinct. Caryopsis smooth ? loose ?Kunth.1304. S. sinense Roxb. corom. iii. t. 232. fl.ind. \. 239. Kunth.agrost. 474. China.Stem solid, erect, jointed, from 10 to 15 feet high, the greatest partcovered with the sheaths of the leaves ;joints from 4 to 8 inches long,and from 2 to 3 inches in circumference, colour pale brownish yellow.Leaves sub-bifarious, tapering from the base to a long, fine, point,plane, smooth on both sides ;the margins armed with numerous, small,very acute spines pointing forward ; length from 2 to 3 feet, and aboutan inch and a half broad at the base. Sheaths smooth, with a smallligula. Panicle ovate, erect, branches simple and compound, subverticillate,reclinate, long and slender. In S. ofncinarum the branchesof the panicle are scattered over the common rachis and are decom-612