jSchria.] olvi. cypeRxVce.e (clarke). 403 



24. SCLERIA, Berg. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. iii. 1070. 



Flowers strictly 1 -sexual. Spikelets monoecious or dioecious; monoecious 

 spikelets of 1 basal female flower, and 1 or few male flowers above ; 

 female spikelets like the monoecious, but the upper male portion reduced 

 to 1 or 2 empty glumes (or wanting in subgenus Aci'iulus); male spikelets 

 like the monoecious, but without the basal female flower, and often with 

 more numerous male flowers. Glumes concave, open, i.e. the margins 

 not connate. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens 3-1. Style linear, not 

 dilated at the base ; branches i>. Nut bony, ovoid, on a gynophore ; 

 apex of gynophore often dilated into a 8-lobed disc, or (in OphrT/oscleria) 

 forming a small cup. Stems with nodes throughout their length. 

 Inflorescence panicled, often scattered, never umbel led. 



Species 160; found in all tropical and subtropical regions, except the Medi- 

 terranean and Orient. 



*HYPOPOKrM. — MoncEcious spikelets many. Hypogynous disc obsolete. 

 fKirfellce. Slender plants. Spikelets small, mostly clustered. Clusters sessile 

 in a simple spike or im the branches of a panicle. Inflorescence not leafy; bract* 

 small or setaceous. 



Annuals. (Nut horizontally muricated or tubercled.) 

 Panicle reduced to a nearly simple spike. 

 Spikelets thinly hairy or glabrate. 



Clusters small ; spikelets ^-^ in. long. 



Spike linear, elongate . . . . 1. -S'. ^ergracilis. 



Spike oblong, denser . . . . 2. S. pttlchella, 



Spikelets \ in. long, 6-12 in a cluster . . 5. <S. remota. 



Spikelets hispid, long-ciliate 



Clusters of spikelets detlexed ; bracts incon- 

 spicuous . . . . . . . 3. aS". melanofricha. 



Clusters of spikelets erect : bracts longer than 



the clusters . . . . . , 4:. S. glomerulata. 



Panicle branched more or less (the sessile clusters 

 of spikelets on the branches). 

 Panicle branches developed ; the clusters of 

 spikelets distinct. 

 Spikelets hairy . . . . . . Q. S. hispidula. 



Spikelets glabrous . . . . . 1. S. glabra. 



Panicle oblong, dense ; branches very short . 8. S. ustiilata. 

 Perennials with horizontal rhizome. 



Panicle reduced to a nearly simple spike, lower 

 clusters distinct. 

 Nut smooth. 



Clusters of spikelets pendent in fruit. 



Basal leaves reduced to sheaths, or short . 9. ^S", liirtella. 

 Basal leaves 8-12 in. long . . , 10. *S. catophylla. 



Clusters of spikelets suberect in fruit. 



Stems thickened qnasi-bnlbous at the base . 13. S. Buchanani. 

 Stems not or obscurely thickened at the base. 



Spikelets \-^ in. long . . . . 11. aS". mechotviana . 



Spikelets ^-X in. long. 



Neai'ly glabrous .... 12. S. meyeriana. 



Hairy 14. >S'. erythrorrhiza. 



