20 cxLii. XYRiDE,« (buown). [Xi/Ha. 



20. X. pumila, Uendlsin Cat. Afr. PL Welw. ii. 70. A small rigid 

 plant, densely tufted. Rhizome bearing several crowded branches. 

 Leaves distichous, 2-3-J in. long, including the J in. long sheath, 

 scarcely J lin. broad, linear, very acute or subaristate at the apex ; 

 sheaths dark chestnut-brown. Peduncle 4-5| in. long, \ lin. thick, 

 terete, glabrous. Spike 2J-2J lin. long, l-\^ lin. broad, about 3-flowered, 

 narrowly ellipsoid, slightly drawn out at the base. Bracts lf-2 lin. long, 

 |-1| lin. broad, elliptic or oblong, entire, coriaceous, minutely papillate- 

 scabrid on the back of the apical part, 3-nerved, dark chestnut-brown, 

 slightly paler at the margin, those in the centre dull ochreous-brown. 

 Lateral sepals lf-2 lin. long, nearly J lin. broad, lanceolate, obtuse, 

 golden-brown along the keel, becoming paler towards the margins ; keel 

 very minutely scabridulous from about J above the base to the apex. 

 Corolla bright yellow. Staminodes 2-armed, hairy. Anthers f lin. long, 

 linear-oblong, orange-yellow. 



Iiower Guiviea. Ancrola : Huilla ; in thicket-grown marshes between Humpata 

 and the lofty plain of Empalanca, Welwitsch, 247] ! 



21. X. multicaulis, iV. E. Brown. Leaves lJ-3 in. long, ^-1 lin. 

 broad, linear, subacute, sometimes slightly hardened and whitish at the 

 apex, glabrous, sometimes minutely rugulose in the dried state. 

 Peduncular-sheath lJ-2 in. long, with a short leafy point. Peduncles 

 numerous, 4-6 in. long, ^-J lin. thick, angular, compressed, glabrous, 

 twisted. Spike 2J-3 lin. long, 1-1 J lin. thick, lanceolate, 2-3-flowered, 

 dull smoky-brown. Outer bracts lJ-2 lin. long, thin, broad, elliptic, 

 subacute or obtuse, deeply concave, slightly keeled at the apex, entire, 

 subcoriaceous, indistinctly 3-nerved, dull brown; inner bracts thinner, orbi- 

 cular, apiculate, closely convolute, scarcely keeled, nerveless. Lateral sepals 

 2-2 J lin. long, J lin. broad, lanceolate, acute, boat-shaped, thin, scarcely 

 keeled, light straw-coloured, scarcely darker on the keel, which is quite 

 entire. Corolla-lobes 1 lin. long, | lin. broad, obovate, very obtuse, 

 yellow. Arms of the staminodes broad, linear, densely fringed with 

 yellow hairs. 



jHozamb. Sista British Central Africa : Nyasaland ; Namasi, Cameron, 51 ! 



22. X. angustifoliayZ)^ Wild, dh Durand in Comptes-rendus Soc. Bot. 

 Belg. xxxviii. 149. Leaves 2-4 in. long, \-\ lin. broad, linear, acute, 

 slightly twisted, rigid, with brown sheaths 7 lin. long. Peduncular-sheath 

 lf-2J in. long, leafless, acute, keeled on the back, bright chestnut in the 

 lower part. Peduncles^-1 f t. long, more or less flattened, glabrous. Spike 

 small, about 2|^ lin. long, IJlin. in diam. Inner bracts 2 lin. long, 1 lin. 

 broad, outer smaller, obovate or elliptic, sparsely ciliolate and usually 

 shortly emarginate at the apex, coriaceous, bright fuscous. Lateral 

 sepals about 2 lin. long, oblong, curved, keeled ; keel scarcely or very 

 narrowly winged, not ciliate. Petals about Ij lin. long, 1 lin. broad, 

 obovate, fimbriate, yellow. 



Soutb Central. Congo Free State : Upper Congo ; between Mokanga and 

 Skori, Dewhvre. 



