Xyris. | CXLII, XYRIDEA (BROWN). 1f 
Corolla-lobes yellow, toothed at the apex. Arms of the staminodes. 
very short, ending in a brush-like tuft of long yellow hairs. Anthers- 
linear.--Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afr. v. 420. 
Lower Guinea. Angola: Malange, Mechow in Zurich Herb. 
I have not seen this plant, but, according to the description, it differs from all 
the other African species in its involucrate spikes, The leaves are undescribed, the 
specimen being imperfect. 
2. MK. aristata, V. HL. Br. Leaves 74-12 in. or more long, 1-2} 
lin. broad, linear, acute, shortly awned in the young state, rather 
rigid, conspicuously striate, glabrous, green, with concolorous sheaths. 
3-34 in. long. Peduncular-sheath 8-9 in. long, keeled in the upper 
part, with an acute flat point 1-3} lin. long, glabrous, green, passing 
into pale reddish-brown at the base. Peduncle 2-3 ft. high, 1-1} lin. 
thick, more or less compressed and slightly 2-edged in the upper part, 
very minutely transversely rugulose, not striate ; pith loose, not hollow 
at the centre. Spikes 5-6 lin, long, 4—5 lin. thick, somewhat obovoid, 
about 10-12-flowered. Outer barren bracts nearly as long as the 
spike, similar to the flowering bracts, all about 4-43 lin. long, exclusive 
of the 1-2 lin. long awn, 3 lin. broad, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, with a 
terminal awn, concave or hooded, dark chestnut brown with very broad 
white membranous margins, lacerate and ciliate; nerves indistinct, re- 
ticulated at their apex. Lateral sepals 34-32 lin. long, excluding the 
? lin. long awn, rather more than 1 lin. broad, oblong or somewhat 
elliptic-oblong, acute, awned, keeled, dark-brown along the keel, pale 
horn-colour on the membranous sides; keel narrowly winged, ciliate 
from the base nearly to the apex. Corolla yellow; petals 2 lin. long, 
14-13 lin. broad, cuneate-obovate, minutely crenulate-denticulate. Arms 
of the staminodes about % lin, long, slender, covered with long yellow 
hairs. Anthers oblong. 
Mozamb. Dist. British Central Africa: Kambole, south-west of Lake 
Tanganyika, 5000 ft., Nutt! 
A very distinct species, differing from every other Xyris known to me in its 
aristate bracts with broad white membranous ciliate margins. 
3. K. rigidescens, Welw. ex Rendle in Cat. Afr. Pl. Welw. ii. 67. 
A tall plant of robust habit. Leaves 7-10 in. long, 1-12 lin. broad, 
linear, tapering rapidly above to a shortly pungent apex, rigid, glabrous. 
Peduncular-sheath 3-6 in. long, leafless, ending abruptly in a sharp stiff 
apiculus, glabrous, reddish-brown to the middle. Peduncle 1-2} ft. 
long, compressed. Spike 4-6 lin. long and thick, subglobose. Outer 
bracts very coriaceous 2—24 lin. long, 2 lin. broad, orbicular, concave, 
keeled below the abruptly aristate apex, blackish, shining ; inner bracts 
slightly shorter than the calyx, 24 lin. long, ovate, acuminate to a 
hardened mucronate (not aristate) apex, boat-shaped, keeled, entire, 
ciliate at the apex, golden-brown, with thinner and paler margins, 
darker at the apex, with a narrowly lanceolate greenish dorsal area. 
Lateral sepals 3-3} lin. long, % lin. broad, linear-oblong, subulate- 
apiculate, golden-brown along the back, passing into light straw- 
