Distribution. 315 genera with 3,500 species. The order is distributed over the whole world, and as regards number of individuals is perhaps the richest. In the Tropics, large, broad-leaved, tree-like forms are found (Bambuseæ, Olyreæ, Andropogoneæ, etc.; in S. Europe, Arundo donax); in England, next to the Compositæ, it is the order most rich in species (about 134).—The origin of some of the cultivated Grasses is lost in obscurity. The Maize, no doubt, was indigenous to America, where its nearest relatives are found, and where it has also been discovered in ancient Indian graves; Durra or Guinea-corn, Millet and Sugar-cane are South Asiatic plants, and our own cereals no doubt have sprung primarily from Western Asia and South-Eastern Europe (Barley from Armenia and Persia, where a very closely related wild species is found; Wheat from the same districts; Rye from the perennial species S. montanum). Panicum altissimum and Rice have come from Africa.
Uses. The Grasses play a very important part as cereals and fodder plants. The following are the most important of the cultivated ones: Triticum vulgare (common Wheat), turgidum, amyleum, polonicum, spelta, durum, etc.; Secale cereale (Rye); Barley (Hordeum-species, see under the genus); Maize; Oats (Avena sativa, orientalis, nuda); Millet (Panicum miliaceum); Durra (Turkish Millet, or Guinea-corn, Sorghum vulgare, cernuum and saccharatum); Manna-grass (Glyceria fluitans). As fodder-plants especially: Rye-grass (Lolium perenne); Oat-grass (Avena elatior); Timothy (Phleum pratense); Fox-tail (Alopecurus pratensis); Cock’s foot (Dactylis glomerata); Dog’s tail (Cynosurus cristatus); Sweet-vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum); Soft grass, or Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus and mollis); Quaking-grass (Briza media); species of Meadow-grass (Poa); Fescue (Festuca) and Brome (Bromus).—Several cultivated species of Grass are also used in the preparation of fermented liquors, the starch in the seeds being transformed to sugar (beer from “Malt,” i.e. the germinated Barley; arrack from Rice); or the stem becomes specially saccharine before flowering: the Sugar-cane, Sorghum saccharatum.
Officinal. The rhizome of Triticum repens, Oat-grain, flour of Barley, and the starch of Wheat, also sugar.
The seeds of Lolium temulentum are considered poisonous.—The stems of many species (including our common grains) are used in the manufacture of paper, especially “Esparto grass” (Stipa tenacissima) from Spain and N. Africa, and the sheathing-leaves of the ♀-spike of Maize. Sand Lyme-grass (Elymus arenarius), and especially Psamma arenaria, are important.—But few Grass-species are sweet-scented: Anthoxanthum odoratum and Hierochloa odorata contain coumarin; Andropogon-species have essential oils (“Citronella oil”).—Ornamental plants are: the “Ribbon-grass” (a variety of Digraphis arundinacea), Stipa pennata (whose awn is exceedingly long and feathery), Gynerium argenteum (Pampas-grass), Lagurus ovatus, Hordeum jubatum, Bromus briziformis.
Family 3. Spadicifloræ.
The primitive form resembles that of the preceding family. In it we find the typical, perfectly developed, Monocotyledonous flower, sometimes even with free carpels and with a dry or somewhat fleshy, but never petaloid perianth; and this passes over into very different forms by the suppression of the floral-leaves, perianth and sporophylls (unisexual flowers are common), and by the close aggregation of the flowers in the inflorescence. The flower is hypogynous in every case. The inflorescence is a spike which may be either single or branched, and has often a thick and fleshy axis (a spadix). In Palms and Araceæ it is enveloped, at any rate prior to the opening of the flowers, by a very large floral-leaf, the spathe, which may be petaloid (Figs. [297], [301]).
The fruit is most frequently fleshy (berry, drupe) or a nut, never a capsule. The embryo is small, with large, fleshy endosperm (Fig. [299] C); very rarely the endosperm is wanting.
Fig. 295.—Piassava (Attalea funifera).
