Flora of the Leribe Plateau ami Environs. 331 



GRAMINEAE. 



IMPERATA, Cyr. 

 I. arundinacea, Cyr., var. Thunbergii, Hack. 



Damp spots on mountain slopes and dongas. 18-30 in. high, spikes 

 whitish. Summer. Common. A. Dieterleu. 212!; between Harri- 

 smith and Leribe, Buchanan, 206 ! 



DISTRIBUTION : Clanwilliam. Cape. Humansdorp. Albany. Tembu- 

 land. Natal. Griqualand West. Transvaal (Pretoria, Matebe Valley). 

 Bechuanaland (near Kuruman). 



SESUTO : Mohlorumo or Mohlaba-lerumo. Derived from the verb " ho 

 hlaba ' to pierce and " lerumo " an assegai, in reference to the leaf 

 being shaped like an assegai. The inflorescence is called " Qheme," 

 which is the name of a head ornament made of a stick decorated with 

 feathers of vultures. The raw roots are eaten by young hei'ds, and 

 from the roots also a medicine is prepared and given to children 

 suffering with a cold on the chest. 



SACCHARUM, Linn. 

 S. munroanum, Hack. 



Drakensbergen, near Coldstream, 5-6000 ft., Rehmann, 6876. 

 DISTRIBUTION : Transvaal (Magaliesberg) . Rhodesia (Matopo Hills). 



ERIANTHUS, Michx. 

 E. Sorghum, Nees. 



Banks of rivers and dongas. 4-6 ft. high, spikes cream-brownish. 

 A. Dieterlen, 224 ! ; Left's Kloof, N.E. slopes of Leribe plateau, occa- 

 sional, Phillips, 850! ; near Buffalo River Waterfall, 8000 ft. March, 

 Galpin, 6890 ! 



DISTRIBUTION : Tulbagh. Queenstown. Graaff Reinet. Tembu- 

 land. Orange Free State (Sanddrift Spruit). 



SESUTO : Mothala. Meaning unknown. Used for thatching huts. 

 The leaves cause a rash when rubbed on the skin ; the raw roots are 

 chewed by the native children. Used medicinally. 



ISCHAEMUM, Linn. 

 I. Franksae, J.M.W. 



Natal, Tabauhlope, 6-8000 ft,, October, Wood, 10540 ! 

 DISTRIBUTION : Endemic. 



