^ l6. GRAMINEAE 



long, 3-cleft. Leaves broad-lanceolate, stalked. — Species i. Equa- 

 torial West Africa Leptaspis R. Br. 



Spikelets bisexual or polygamous. Styles 3, short, free or united at the 

 very base. Leaves linear or narrow lanceolate 5 



5. Outer glumes rudimentary. Flowering glume awnless. — Species 4. 



(Homalocenchrns Mieg.) Leersia Swartz 



Outer glumes distinctly developed. Stamens 6 6 



'6. Flowering glume and palea slightly compressed, awnless. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, more or less distinctly stalked. — Species 4. Madagascar 

 and Natal. (Under Potomophila R. Br.) , . . Maltebrunia Kunth 

 Flowering glume and palea strongly compressed. — Species 3, two wild in 

 Central Africa, the third (0. sa/iva L., rice) cultivated in various regions. 

 The seeds are used for food and for the preparation of meal, starch, oil, 

 and brandy, the straw for plaiting and for the manufacture of paper and 

 brush-ware Oryza L. 



■7. (2.) Flowering glume and palea (if present) stiff or at length hardened, 

 firmer than the outer glumes and awnless, at lea^jt in the hermaphrodite 

 flowers. Lowest glume usually smaller than the others. Rachis of the 

 spike or raceme or branches of the panicle rarely jointed. [Tribe 



PANICEAE.] 8 



Flowering glume and palea (if present) membranous, thinner than the outer 

 glumes. 2Ö 



8. Flowers unisexual, monoecious. Spikelets in panicles, the male in the 



lower portion of the panicle or in special panicles. Outer glumes in the 

 male spikelets none, in the female 2. Lodicules 3. Leaves net -veined. — 



Species 2. Tropical and South-East Africa Olyra L. 



Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous ; in the latter case spikelets arranged 

 in spikes 9 



9. Spikelets partly hemiaphrodite, partly male or neuter 10 



Spikelets all hermaphrodite 11 



10. Spikelets in short spikes consisting of a lower hermaphrodite and two or 

 three upper neuter spikelets ; spikes unilateral on the flattened, leaf- 

 like rachis of a compound spike. Stem erect. Leaves lanceolate, 

 sagittate. — Species i. Southern West Africa (Angola). 



Phyllorhachis Trimen 



Spikelets in a simple spike consisting of i — 2 lower female and 4 — 6 upper 



male spikelets ; rachis of the spike enlarged at the base, but not leaf-like. 



Stem creeping. — Species i. Madagascar Thuarea Pers. 



:ii. Spikelets ir short spikes sunk in pits on a broad rachis. Stem creeping. — 



Species 4. Tropical and South Africa. Used for binding the sand 



on riverbanks or as fodder ; also in medicine. Stenotaphrum Trin. 



Spikelets not sunk in pits on a broad rachis 12 



