73 



E. chloromelas, E. chalcantha, E. nebulosa, E. brizoides. 



Fig. 14 .shows a cross section of the leaf of E. curvula. There 

 are ridges both above and below, which is unusual and there 

 are smaller ridges between them. There is no very distinct 

 midrib. The sclerenchyma is developed above and below the 

 bundles but these are not always completely girdered. The 

 motor cells in the furrows are functional, and the leaf rolls up 

 quickly in dry weather. The amount of sclerenchyma is not 

 excessive. 



Erianthus. E. capensis, E. sorghum are both tall Ylei 

 species, sometimes also transitional to Bush. Both are known 

 as umTala. E. junceus is a Basutoland and Eastern Mountain 

 species. The umTalas are about the tallest of our South 

 African grasses, growing up to 15 feet or more. They are 

 used for thatching'. 



Fig. 14. — Transverse Section of a portion of a leaf of Eragrostis curvula 



(x about 60). 



Festuca (See Fig. 1 A. and B.) is a temperate Mountain 

 Yeld genus of the Eastern and South Central Mountain ranges 

 chiefly, but F. scabra, which is dioecious, occurs all over 

 South Africa. It grows in isolated tufts. F. caprina (bok 

 baard) is dominant over stretches of Mountain Veld, and is 

 reckoned rather a good pasture grass. It is fairly common in 

 Natal (though no records are given in the Flora Capensis), 

 and it extends along the Drakensberg to the Stormberg and 

 Amatolas. F. costota is similar in its distribution and even 

 commoner, but rarely dominant. F. longipes is rare and F. 

 vulpioides is only recorded from the Amatolas. The species 

 grow in dense tufts or they form hard tussocks. F. caprina 

 is the most xerophytic, with permanently folded filiform or 

 setaceous leaves, and a contracted panicle. The leaves all show 

 more or less prominent ridges in cross section. 



