42. MARANTACEAE — 43. BURMANNIACEAE I49 



Fruit indehisccnt, covered with large protuberances. Seeds without an 

 aril. Flower-pairs with a bractcole. — Species 6. West Africa. 



Trachyphrynium Benth. 



8, Inflorescence springing from the root-stock and separated from the i-leafed 



stem, spike-like. Inner staminodes, at least one of them, equalling 

 the outer. — Species i. Equatorial West Africa. (Under Calathea 



Mcy.) Afrocalathea K. Srhum. 



Inflorescence terminating the leafy, sometimes very short stem or its 

 branches q 



9. Inner staminodes larger than the outer, the hooded one without a strap- 



shaped appendage. Bracts enclosing 2 — 4 sessile pairs of flowers each. 

 Inflorescence head-like. Stem branched. — Species i. Equatorial West 



Africa (Gaboon) Ataenidia Gagnepain 



Inner staminodes smaller than the outer 10 



10. Sepals very unequal. Fruit dry, indehiscent, with adnate seeds. In- 



florescence consisting of 2 — 3 spikes. Bracts enclosing one pair of 

 flowers each, persistent. — Species i. Equatorial Africa. Used in the 

 preparation of salt. (Under Clinogyne Benth. or Donax Lour.) 



Halopegia K. Schum. 

 Sepals subequal. Bracts usually enclosing 2 — 4 pairs of flowers each. 11 



11. Inflorescence head-like. Bracts persistent. ^ — ^ Species 2. West Africa. 



(Under Calathea Mey.) Phrynium Willd. 



Inflorescence raceme- or panicle-like. Bracts deciduous. — Species 25. 

 West Africa, Upper Nile, and Island of Reunion. Some species yield 

 starch or fibre. {Donax Lour., including Marantochloa Griseb.) (Plate 

 25.) Clinogyne Salisb. 



ORDER MICROSPERMAE 



SUBORDER BURMANNIINEAE 



FAMILY 43. BURMANNIACEAE 



Herbs. Leaves narrow or scale-like. Flowers solitary or in cymose, usually 

 spike-like inflorescences, regular or nearly so, hermaphrodite or pol37gamous. 

 Perianth-segments 3 or 6, petaloid, united below. Stamens 3, opposite the 

 inner perianth-segments, or 6. Ovary inferior, i- or 3-celled. Ovules numer- 

 ous, inverted. Style 3- or 6-cleft. Fruit dry, dehiscing by slits or irregularly. 

 Seeds albuminous ; testa loose. — ■ Genera 4, species 15. Tropical and South 

 Africa. 



1. Anthers erect, opening transversely, 3. Style long, with 3 stigmas. [Tribe 



BURMANNIEAE.] 2 



Anthers recurved, opening lengthwise. Style short. [Tribe THIS- 

 MIEAE.] 3 



2. Ovary i-celled. — Species 3. Central Africa. . Gymnosiphon Blume 

 Ovar}^ 3-celled. — Species 10. Tropical and South Africa. Burmannia L. 



