TCONES PLANTARUAI. 33 



Plate 1242. 



PliAGIOSETUM REPEACTUM, Benth. 



Gramine^, Tribe PAyiCE^. 



Plagiosetnm, Benth. gen. nov. Spiculoe l-flor£e, ramis sterilihus 

 peclunculi 3^ setaceo-multifidis involucratae, in involucro solitariae v. 

 geminae sessiles marticulatEe, involucris in racemo simplici peduncalatJs 

 cum pedunculo spiculaqne fructifera articulatim deciduis. Glmnce 4, 3 

 exteriores raultinerves vacuce, terminalis florida minor demum cnm palea 

 indnrata, caryopsin includens. 



P. refractum, Bentli.y species unica, Pennisetum refractum, F, Mnell. 

 • Fragm. viii. 109 ; Setaria refrada, P. Muell. Fragm. iii. 147. 



Hab. Interior of Australia, Cooper's Creek, SoiviWs Expedition ; 

 Alice Springs, Giles. 



Gramen glabrum, divaricato-ramosum, prostratum v. ramis adscen- 

 dentibns subpedale. i^oZ^a angnsta, plana, subulato- acuminata. Racemi 

 rhachis 3-6-pollicaris, Pedtincidi secus rhacliin distantes, rigiduli, 

 complanati, infra involucrum 3-4 lin. longi, primum erecti demum 

 patentes v. reflexi, ima basi articulati, cnm involucro spiculaqne 

 rnatnra decidni, apice 3-4-fidi, ramis in setas longas capillares divisis, 

 inYolncrum constitnentes. Spicnla intra ramos sessiles, addita rarius 

 altera in nno ramo altins sessili, Ghimce vacuxe 3, multinerves, 2a. 

 Sa.qne subsequales, inferior triente brevior; gluma florida Setarice, 

 vacuis minor, fructifera cnm palece semiinclus^ valde indnrata, tevis v. 

 sublente minute rugosa. Styli a basi distincti. 



I had at first, when the drawing was made, followed F. Mueller in 

 referring this curious grass to Pennisetum^ regarding it only as a very 

 distinct section, but General Munro has shown me that that would 

 require too great a modification of the generic character of Pennisetum^ 

 which, added to the very great difference in habit, has induced me to 

 adopt it as a distinct genus. — G, BEXTHAil, 



Fig. 1, Involucre and spikelet. 2. Empty glume, seen from ingide, 3. Flowering 

 glume embracing the palea. 



