16. XYRIDACEAE-l*. COMMKLINACEAE- 53. 



1. LEPTOCARPUS R.Br. 



paniculatus Mast. Valley near Baviaan Falls, Alfred County. 



FAMILY 16— XYRIDACEAE. 



Herbs. Leaves radical, linear. Flowers hermaphrodite, in 

 dense spikes with involucre of imbricate glumaceous bracts. 

 Sepals 2 — 3 (1 sepal larger and deciduous). Petals 3 united. 

 Fertile stamens 3 adnate to petals. Staminodes 3 or 0, bifid at 

 apex. Ovary superior 1 celled or imperfectly 3 celled. Ovules 

 numerous. Style 3 cleft. Fruit capsular. Endosperm mealy. 1 

 genus 5 species. 

 XYRIS L. (Mostly in wet spots). 



1. anceps Lam. Near Durban. 



2. capensis Thb. Coast to Drakensberg. Common, 



3. gerrardi N.E.B. Zululand. 



4. natalensis Nilss. Coastbelt and Midlands. 



5. umbilonis Nilss. Coast and Midlands. 



FAMILY 17— ERIOCAULACEAE. 



Herbs. Leaves radical linear. Flowers minute unisexual, in 

 heads surrounded by an involucre. Perianth membranous simple 

 or double, rarely in female flowers. Stamens 2 — 6. Ovary su- 

 perior 2 — 3 celled. Ovule 1 in each cell. Styles 3 or 3 branched. 

 Fruit capsular. Endosperm mealy. 1 genus 7 species. 

 ERIOCAULON L. (In rivers and vleis.) 



1. abyssinicum Hochst. Midlands. 



2. africanum Hochst. Midlands. 



3. dregei Hochst. Coastbelt. 



4. natalensis Schinz. 



5. ruhlandii Schinz. Clairmont coastbelt. 



6. sonderianum Korn. Zululand. 



7. woodii N.E.B. Murchison. 



FAMILY 18— COMMELINACEAE. 



Herbs. Leaves alternate, bases sheathing. Flowers herma- 

 phrodite. Sepals 3. Petals 3. Fertile stamens 2—6. Ovary su- 

 perior 2 — 3 celled. Style 1. Ovules 1 — many in each cell. Fruit 

 capsular. Endosperm mealy. 5 genera 15 species. 

 L Fertile stamens 2—3. Sterile 0— 4. Flowers irregular. 2. 



Fertile stamens 5 — 6. Flowers more or less regular. 3. 



2. Inflorescence included or nearly so in a spathe. 



1 COMMELINA. 

 Flowers not included in a spathe. 2 ANEILEMA. 



3. Ovary 2 celled. Racemes panicled. 5 FLOSCOPA. 

 Ovary 3 celled. Flowers axillary clustered. 4- 



