254 DR. M. T. MASTEKS ON SOUTn-xVFHTCAN BESTIACEiE. 



oblongus, obtusus, laevis, indehiscens, osseus, nigrescens, breviter sti- 



pitatus, unilocttlarls, l-spermus, pevianthio pevsistente scqviilongo 

 cinctus. 



Apparently one of the commonest and most widely distributed 

 species of the order, and varying considerably in stature, number 

 of spikelets, and coloration of the bracts, &c. In the var. hi- 

 color the yellow colour, which is generally confined to the mar- 

 gins and extreme points of the sheaths, extends over half their 

 surface. 



Thunberg described both male and female plants; but his 

 figure represents the former only. From the very meagre descrip- 

 tion given by that author of the female plant, and perhaps from 

 its comparative rarity in herbaria, Kunth and other authors have 

 been led into confusion. 



Nees von Esenbeck said that the female plant could not be 

 classed with the genus BestiOj and placed it in his genus Hypo- 

 discus ; but, unfortunately, by mistake he wi^ote Mestio aristatus^ 

 Linn., instead of Thunberg, and thus has added to the -^er- 

 plexity of subsequent authors. No such species as JRestio aris- 

 tatus, Linn., is known. 



Nees, although he indicated the species, gave no description of 

 it ; hence I have drawn one up as above. 



^ Perianthium sessile vel stipite carnoso destitutum, Frucins plus minus 



tuberculatus, sessilis vel stipitulatus. 



2. H. Oliverianus, sp. n. Culmis strictissimis, filiformibus, tere- 

 tibus v. subcompressis, basi vaginis approximatis praeditis, cfeteruni 

 nudis; spiculis masculis 2-3, in apice culmi alternato-approximatis, 

 rare sohtariis, subglobosis v. turbiiiatis ; bracteis arete imbricatis, cas- 

 taneis, oblongis, aristatis, arlstis longissimis, flavidis, patentibus ; flo- 

 ribus compressis, arcuatis ; glurais 6, ina^qualibus, lanceolatis, externis 

 laterahbus duabus conduphcatis, carinatis, carinis glabris, intermedia 

 plauiuscula, internis conformibus; antheris apiculatis : spiculis fenn- 

 neis sohtariis vel geminis, 1-floris, eylindraeeo-lanceolatis; bracteis ut 

 in mare; flore unico terminali; periantbio minute, hyaline, biseriali 

 (J-glumi, glutnis subsequalibus ovatis ; ovario stipiti crasso imposito, 

 superne ad discum ej)igynum, crassum, profunda lobatum adhserente, 

 uniloculari; stylo brevi; stigmatibus linearibus,longiusculis, exsertis. 



Hab. Pr. B. Sp. Ex. sp. s. d et $, Burchell, n. 8118! 



Culmi dense ca^spitosi, erecti, teretes v. subcompressi, simplices, stnc- 

 tissimi, 3-4-pedales, crassitie pennae passerinae. VagincB caudicece 

 approximatse, arete convolutse, infima^ nitidae, superiores duplo triplove 

 majores, coriacea;, cinnamomeo-fuseae, albo maculatae, obsolete stnatse, 

 sub apice obtusiusculo flavido aristulatic- Vagina cuhnece nuHiE. 



