436 CXLII. GRAMINEiE. 



nor callous at base. Outer plumes 2, both empty. Flowering 

 glume coucave, of a firmer texture. Palea like the flowering 

 glume, but smaller and 2-nerved. Grain enclosed in the 

 hardened palea and flowering glume. — Nees, I. c. p. 15 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Hongk. p. 408. 



Grasses of variable habits. — 1 Cape species. 



2. TRAGUS, Hall. 



Spikelets racemose, 2-5 on common short pedicels, 1- 

 flowered. Outer glumes 2 ; the lower minute, flat, thinly 

 membranous ; the upper (a barren flower, fide Nees) concave, 

 cartilaginous, in the lowest spikelets covered with hard, rough 

 points. Flowering glume and palea oblong, acute, papery- 

 membranous, concave, the flowering glume embracing the 

 shorter, 2-nerved palea. Grain oblong, glabrous, enclosed in 

 the flowering glume and palea. — Lappago, Sclireh. ; Kunth, 

 Enum. i. p. 169 ; Nees, I. c. p. 72. 



Small, rigid grasses, with annual roots. — 1 or 2 species. 



3. PANICUM, Linn. 



Spikelets either in slender unilateral spikes or in close- 

 cylindrical or diftusely-branched panicles, 1-2-flowered ; the 

 lower flowers, when present, male. Glumes always 4, the 

 lowest small or very small, empty ; the next larger and empty ; 

 the third empty or with an imperfect or male flower ; the 

 innermost or flowering glume of a firmer texture, more faintly 

 nerved. Palea like the flowering glume, but smaller and 2- 

 nerved. Grain enclosed in the hardened flowering glume and 

 palea. — Nees, I.e. p. 20; also Oplismenus, I.e. p. 60; Benth. 

 Fl. Hongk. p. 409. 



A vast genus, chiefly tropical; several yield food for man. — 40 or 42 Cape 

 species, chiefly on or beyond the Eastern frontier, 



4. STENOTAPHRUM, Trin. 



Spikelets in spikes, 2 or more inserted in alternate hollows 

 along a broad, flattened, unjointed rachis, 2-flowered. Outer 

 glumes 2, the lower smaller. Lower flower male ; upper her- 

 maphrodite or female. Flowering glume and ])alca coriaceous, 

 the former concave, enclosing and clasping the latter. Grain 

 free, glabrous. — Nees, I. c. p. 62. 



1 Cape species. 



5. BLUFFIA, Nees. 

 Spikelets in digitate racemes, 2-flowered, with a rudimentary 

 third flower. Outer glumes 2, membranous-herbaceous, su- 



