VI PHYLLOSTACHYS FLEXUOSA 133 
with their bud representing spikelets of which the flowers 
are altogether abortive. After these first abortive spikelets 
come the fertile spikelets composed as follows :— 
1. A scaly sheath, 20 to 25 millimetres in length with a 
width, when spread out, of from 5 to 7 millimetres, ending in 
a little pointed tongue. Between this last organ and the 
end of the sheath is a very short shghtly-ciliated ligule; the 
upper face of the sheath isa little rough to the touch. On the 
whole of one edge and part of the other are tiny whitish hairs. 
2. At the base of this sheath a small keel-shaped bract 
from 5 to 8 millimétres in length, thin, soft, whitish, almost 
obtuse with the dorsal part slightly hairy. At the base is 
a very small bud, hardly developed, which represents no 
doubt another abortive flower. 
3. Above this keel-shaped bract a membranous glume or 
scale about 15 millimetres in length, soft and ending in a 
short point. A few silky hairs are seen on the edges towards 
the extremity of the scale, the dorsal part of which is slightly 
downy. 
4. A glume or scale of a different nature 20 to 25 
millimetres in length with a very fine point, thicker, tougher, 
and longer than the nembranous scale, and smooth. 
5. A last scale, similar in form to the preceding one, but 
differing from it in that its point is invariably split in two 
for part of its length. | 
These five organs composing the spikelet are distichous, 
imbricated, and rolled the one over the other, especially the 
two last. Their colour is green at the base, tinged with 
violet towards the extremity, notably in those parts which 
are exposed to the action of light. 
