32 



2. Flaccid annuals. Lower empty valve exceeding the 



fertile 3 



Perennials with crowded basal leaves. Lower empty 

 valve shorter than the fertile \ 



3. Fertile valve \-i\ tin. long, equalling or slightly exceed- 



ing the glumes E. triandra. 



Fertile valve 2i-2§ tin. long, much exceeding the glumes. 

 Stamens 6 E. longiflora. 



4. Leaves 2-5 tin. broad, when flat E. dura. 



Leaves filiform E. microlaena. 



5. Culms bulbous at t lie base, simple, 2-3 noded. Empty 



valves sub-equal 6 



Culms not bulbous or if sub-bulbous then branched. 4-6 

 noded, or empty valves unequal 8 



6. Lower empty valve almost equally wide throughout. 



Blades usually convolute, rigid E. longifolia. 



Lower empty valve widening above the middle, or like 

 the upper coarsely rugose. Blades usually fiat, 

 broad 7 



7. Spikelets 3 lin. long E. bulbosa. 



Spikelets 4-6 lin. long E. capensis. 



8. Lower empty valve less than \ length of the upper, 



differing from it in substance 9 



Empty valves similar, or lower, shorter and narrower 

 but like upper in substance 13 



9. Culm coarse, almost woody, below. Blades very rigid 10 

 Culms and blades fine to very fine 11 



10. Glumes about \ the length of the spikelet 



E. rupestris. 

 Glumes f-f the length of the spikelet E. setacea. 



11. Glumes equalling the spikelet E. uniflora. 



Glumes scarcely \ the length of the spikelet 12 



12. Spikelets in 2-9 spiculate racemes E. tricostata. 



Spikelets solitary E. dodii. 



13. Spikelets 4-£-7£ lin. long. Upper empty valve not hinged 



by an appendage to the fertile 14 



Spikelets 1-2$ lin. long or if up to 4 lin. long, then upper 

 empty valve hinged to the fertile, by an ear shaped 

 appendage on a pivot like knob 16 



14. Lower nodes reversedly hairy. Keels of empty valves 



long hairy E. barbinodis. 



Nodes glabrous. Fmpty valves hairy all over 15 



