110 ERYTHEA. 



tending the uppermost spikelets, is to be found almost ever}' grada- 

 tion in form and texture between the narrow, foliaceous bract 

 subtending the whole raceme, and the flabelliform sub-scarious 

 flower-inclosing glumes of the lower spikelets. Moreover, when 

 there are two empty glumes subtending a spikelet, the lower appears 

 to be attached to the rachis, the upper to the rachilla, as with 

 the bracts and bracteoles subtending peduncles and pedicels in some 

 Umbelliferpe. From atheoretical point of view, therefore, Stapfia may- 

 be looked upon as originally possessing a rachis clothed throughout 

 with diminutive leaf-like bracts (empty glumes), each bearing a spike- 

 let in its axis. We may suppose, further, that these eventually disap- 

 peared from the lower part of the rachis, on account, perhaps, of the 

 crowding of the spikelets, but persisted on the upper part whenever 

 the spikelets themselves were suppressed or very much reduced. 

 The homology between the glumes of grasses and the bracts of 

 more highly developed plants seems, therefore, to be clearly demon- 

 strated in this genus. 



S. Colusana. Roots fibrous. Stems decumbent, then ascending 

 7-15 cm. high, leafy. Leaves overlapping, pale green, scarious 

 between the nerves, loosely folded around the culm, but not differ- 

 entiated into sheath and ligule, about 12 mm. wide at the middle, 

 tapering to each end, 3-J— 7-|- cm. long, keeled on the back above, 

 plicate, minutely ciliate /with raised glands on the margins and 

 nerves. Peduncle sometimes bearing a lanceolate-linear, gland- 

 ciliate bract, resembling the empty glumes on the upper part of the 

 rachis, but larger. Raceme pale green, at first partially included, 

 never much exserted, 3^-7 cm. long, 8-11 mm. wide, cylindrical; 

 the upper one sixth or one-fourth of the rachis bare of spikelets, 

 clothed with empty bracts, these lanceolate-linear, 7-8 mm. long, 

 f— 1-J- mm. wide at base, with 6-9 prominent green nerves, ciliate 

 with raised glands on the nerves and margin. Spikelets sub-sessile, 

 1-5- (usually 5-) flowered, 6-7 mm. long, imbricate. Flowers 

 proterand rous. Flower-inclosing glumes imbricate, broadly flabelli- 

 form, 5 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, minutely ciliate-fringed; nerves 

 glandular like the leaves. Paleaemargiuate, minutely ciliate-fringed. 

 Lodicules very minute, apparently adnate to the base of the fila- 

 ments. Anthers yellowish-green while inclosed, then rose-colored; 

 3-4 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Styles 4J- 6 mm. long (includ- 



