448 CXLII. GRAMINES. 
46. DACTYLOCTENIUM, Willd. 
Spikelets 2-several-flowered, unilateral, in digitate spikes ; 
flowers distichous. Outer glumes 2, compressed, keeled, shorter 
than the flowering, membranous, the upper awned. Flowering 
glume strongly keeled, subulate-aristate, 3-nerved, the lateral 
nerves near the margin ; palea 2-nerved.—Wees, 1. c. p. 249. 
An annual grass, found in most hot countries; at Natal. 
47, ELEUSINE, Gertn. 
Spikelets 2-several-flowered, unilateral in tufted spikes; 
flowermg glumes distichous, imbricate. Outer glumes 2, 
keeled, membranous, pointless, shorter than the flower, the 
lower smaller. Flowering glume pointless, obtuse, entire, 
keeled, closely 3-nerved at back; palea 2-nerved, obtuse.— 
Nees, l.e. p. 250. 
Tropical grasses, often cultivated. 2. Indica and FE. Coracana occur in 
Caffraria and at Natal. 
48. CHLORIS, Sw. 
Spikelets 2-8-flowered, sessile along one side of a common 
rachis, in digitate spikes, 1-3 of the lower flowering glumes 
fertile, awned under the apex, the rest neuter, awned or 
pointless. Outer glumes 2, membranous, persistent, acute, 
the upper sometimes short-awned. Flowering glume 3-nerved, 
triangular-keeled, awned under the apex, and usually ciliated 
at the back and margin; palea 2-keeled, with a straight, 
unjoited awn. Grain elongate.—ees, I. c. p. 239. 
2 Cape species, Eastern. 
49. SPARTINA, Schreb. 
Spikelets 1-flowered, compressed, racemose. Outer glumes 
2, rigid, keeled, unequal, the lower smaller, narrower, 1- 
nerved, upper 3-nerved, much larger. Flowering glume mem- 
branous, pointless, compressed-keeled ; palea longer, boat-like, 
2-nerved.—Wees, l. c. p. 260. 
A widely-dispersed genus, of which there is 1 Cape species. 
50. TETRACHNE, Nees. 
Spikelets many-flowered, sessile im a compound spike. 
Outer glumes keeled, l-nerved. Flowering glumes imbri- 
cated, with 2 interior empty glumes below the fertile ones. 
Flowering glume rigidly herbaceous, acutely keeled, 3-5- 
nerved, somewhat mucronate below the apex; palea sub- 
equal, sharply and prominently 2-keeled, subacute, with 
