278 DR. M. T. MASTEKS 02^ SOIJTH-AFKICAI^ EESTIACEJ!. 



triloculare, castaneum, stigmatihus 3 villoso-plumosis superatum, 

 Capsula magis miinisve triloba, abortu bi- vel miilocularis, stylo- 

 ruia vestigiis coronatum, perianthio persistente vix brevier. 



This species seems variable in the size of all its parts. Usually , 

 it has sterile mucli-brancliecl foliaceoiis culms, separate from, and 

 shorter than the fertile culms, -which latter are destitute of leaves, 

 and bear comparatively large spikelets in slightly branched 

 panicled cymes; but not unfrequently spikelets arc borne on the 

 end of leafy much-branched culms, like tho«e that are ordinarily 

 sterile ; and in this case the spikelets, though perfect, are smaller 



than those borne on the true fertile stems. This species is apt 

 to he confounded, on a first glance, with Leptocaiyiis 2)aniculatiiSy 

 from which, however, it is very distinct. 



R. BiFARius, sp. n. Culmis teretibus; paniculis inasculis laxis> 

 pluristachyis ; spiculis oblongis, obtusis, compressis ; bracteis bifa- 

 riam imbricatis; spiculis femineis majoribus, ovatis, plurifloris; brac- 

 teis quinquefariam imbricatis; styhs 3; capsula abortu biloculari. 



Hab. Pr. B. Sp. Ex, sp. s. J et §, Burchell, 8068! 



Culmi 4-pedales, teretes, simpliceSi solidi, olivacei, albo-lepidoti, cras- 

 sitie pennse gallinaccai. Vagince cuhnece ^-poUicares, arctae, elhp- 

 lipticse, coriaceae, fuscse, striata^, superne ad margines teuuiores, sub 

 apice obtusiusculo subulato-mucronatse. Panicula mascula cymosa, 

 effusa, pluriramosa, ramis complauatis, sursum dilatatis, erecto-paten- 

 tibus. Spicalce oblougo-obtusa;, vel cjlindracese, subeompressa?, 

 pluriflorae, 1 poll, longoe, 3-4 lin. lata;. Spathce bracteiformes. Bract€<B 

 distiche disposita;, basi arete, superne laxe imbricatae singulse ob- 

 longtc, recurvatse, eoriaceae, spadiccie, impresso-punctulata?^ ad mar- 

 gines tenuiores, ad apicem breviter mucroRata;, flores 3-plo superantes- 

 Flores stipitulati, oblongi, obtusi, arcuati. Glumce oblonga;, acutse, 

 laterales externcB naviculari-conduplicata?, villoso-carinatai, ferrugin^^^* 

 rigida;; intermedia antica^ sequalis, planiuscula; interna 3, breviores, 

 tenuiorcs, conformes, Anthera inclusse, lineari-oblongae, dorso ferru- 

 ginese, antice flavida?. Pistilli rudimentum nullum. — SpicuJce fe- 

 jiiinece 1-3, terminales, erectae^ oblongo-ovata?, l-2-pollicare3, eas 

 Thamnochorti imbricati {Staberoha imbricatcey Kunth) relerentes, 

 Bractea oblongaj, mucronatse, nervoso-striatae, flores 3— 1-plo supe- 

 rautes. Glumte ut in mare. Ovarium 3-loculare, stylis 3 stitr- 

 matosis recurvis superatum. Capsula biloba, abortu bilocularis, de- 

 hiscens, glumis persistentibus vix brevier. 



Tlie female plant is so precisely like a Thamnoclortus (§ Sta- 

 lerolia) in general appearance, that it would he passed as belongiug 

 to that genus by any one who did not examine the structure ot 

 the flower, which is that of a true Eestio. It is one of the most 

 distinct of that genus. 



