310 
airy above, particularly towards the base which sometimes 
one usually very much longer (1°2-2 or exceptionally to 4 cm. 
long), scabrid, one or several of the innermost and longest 
sparingly plumose towards the base, rarely all naked, often dark 
yellow, brownish or purplish towards the tips or blackish-purple 
from the base. Spikelets sessile or if in fascicles of 2-4, the lateral 
pedicelled, all lanceolate, more or less acuminate, 5-7 mm. long, 
glabrous, straw-coloured or tinged with brown or purple towards 
the tips of the florets, rarely blackish-purple all over, ¢ or, if 
fascicled, the lateral 3, rarely neuter or all ¢. Lower glume sup- 
pressed or quite rudimentary, upper ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, 
0°5-1 (rarely to 2) mm. long, subhyaline, l-nerved or nerveless. 
Lower floret 3 or more often barren; valve lanceolate, acute or 
acuminate, half as long to almost as long as the upper floret, more 
or less distinctly 3-nerved, rarely 1- or 5-, or even 7-nerved ; 
es linear-lanceolate, 2-nerved, shorter than the valve or in the 
nerves m ess prominent towards the tips ; ea narrow, 
linear-lanceolate, slightly shorter than the valve, tips minutely 
2 - toot odicules 0. Anthers 25-3 mm. long, tips very 
