PlIALARLS, Linn. 



SPIKELETS laterally emu pressed, iu contracted iu,re or less spike-like panicles' 

 rhachilla disarticulating above the glumes, not or obscurely produced beyond the 

 terminal floret. Florets 3, the lower 2 minute, rudimentary, the uppermost 

 hermaphrodite, enclosed by the glumes. 



GLUMES subequal, boat-shaped, keeled, keel often winged. Empty valves 

 very small, subulate to lanceolate, membranous, with a callous base, or 1 or both 

 reduced to a minute callous scale; fertile valve thin, ultimately rigid, 5-nerved, 

 awnless, ovate, acute. Pale almost as long as the valve, 2-nerved (sometimes 

 obscurely). Lodicules 2, hyaline. Stamens 3. Styles long, distinct; stigmas 

 plumose, exserted from the top of the spikelet. Grain much compressed, ovate, 

 free, enclosed by the valve and pale ; hilum oblong, short, embryo equalling 1 the 



length of the grain. 



ANNUALS OR PERENNIALS; leaves flat; panicle terminal, stiff, spike-like, 

 subcapitate or interrupted and lobed ; pedicels very short. 



Species 10, mainly natives of the Mediterranean region, but widely dispersed 

 as weeds ; 1 species in the boreal region and in South Africa, and another from 

 ( 'iilifornia to Chile. 



PLATE 448. 



PHALARIS MINOR, Ret/. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. G<S2). 



Nat. Order Graminetu. 



ANM AL. CULMS tufted, erect or ascending, geniculate, I to 3 feet long, 

 glabrous, finely striate, 4 to 7-noded.; internodes gradually longer from the base, 

 up to 5 inches long ; sheaths shorter than the internodes, the lower tight, the 

 upperermost more or less inflated, striate ; ligule scarious, white, obtuse, 1 to 3 

 lines long ; blades linear, gradually tapering, 2 to 6 inches by Ij to 3 lines, flaccid, 

 glabrous, smooth or almost so, margins slightly rough. 



PANICLK spike-like, from subglobose to cylindric, up to 2| inches long, 

 compact ; rhachis and branches glabrous 



STIKELETS obliquely elliptic, 2 to 2 lines long. 



GLUMES subequal, 3-nerved, acute, glabrous, white, nerves green, keel serrulate, 

 suddenly contracted below the apex ; lower empty valve a minute callous scale ; 

 H./I/KT somewhat subulate, firmly membranous, hairy, with a callous base, up to f 

 line long ; fertile valve scantily silky ; pale ciliate on the back, obscurely 2-nerved 

 or almost nerveless ; anthers J to line long ; grain line long. 



Habitat : NATAL. Exact locality unknown, (icrmrd and McKcii, in Natal 

 Government Herbarium, 8!)15. 



Baron F. v. Mueller says of this grass : " P. Minor is recommended by Dr. 

 Curl for permanent pastures, as it supplies a large quantity of fine, sweet, fattening 

 foliage, relished by stock. It keeps green far into the winter in the climate of 

 New Zealand. 



FiV 1. Spikelet; '2, glume ; :i, upper rudimentary valve; 4, fertile valve; J, pale ; 6, 

 pistil, stamens and luilicules. All eitlunjfd. 



