74 



Fingerhulhia. F. africana (Kalk gras) is a Karroo and 

 transitional species which extends through Griqualand West 

 to the Western region. It is a densely tufted xerophytic form 

 with small, usually convolute leaves. Its roots are very 

 strongly developed. The leaves in cross section show very 

 strongly girdered bundles, with conspicuous motor cells in the 

 somewhat shallow furrows. F. sesleriaeformis is a hygro- 

 philous species, and like most Vlei grasses is widely distri- 

 buted. 



Harpechloa capensis (See Fig. 2 B.) is widely distributed 

 from Port Elizabeth through the Free State and Natal to the 

 Transvaal, but though it occurs at various altitudes it is chiefly 

 characteristic of Mountain Veld where it grows in tussock* 

 associated with Microchloa, Festuca, Koelerza, etc. On the 

 Drakensberg it reaches altitudes of 10,000 feet. It has narrow 

 leaves which are flat under moist conditions, convolute under 

 dry conditions. It is a good grazing grass, very much liked 

 by cattle. It is related to Chloris, which its leaves resemble 

 in cross section as is shown in Fig. 15. The chlorophyll tissue 

 is arranged in rings around each bundle, and the whole upper 

 half of the section is colourless. There are two or three 

 irregular ridges at the midrib, the rest of the leaf being 

 smooth, and the leaf folds conduplicate but does not roll up. 

 There is a little sclerenchyma below each bundle. 



Fig. 15. — Transverse Section of a portion of a leaf of Harpechloa capensis 



(x about 80). 



Holcus. Both //. setiger, which is annual, and H. 

 lanatus, which is perennial, are introduced ruderals. The leaf 

 of the latter is hairy on both surfaces, has rounded ridges with 

 motor cells between, girdered bundles and a thin cuticle. 

 Neither species is common in South Africa, being cultivated 

 only on very poor soil. 



Hordeiim. //. secalinum is rather common in the South 

 West. It is common in the temperate regions of the Northern 

 hemisphere, but is probably not an introduction in South 



