CXLTI. GRAMINETE. 437 



bulate-acuminate, the lower Bmaller 3-nerved, tlic iip]ier 5- 

 ncrved. Lower flower male ; its flowering glume like the 

 upper outer glume, subulate-acuminate ; its palea 2-])arted, 

 membranous, shorter, the segments acuminate, eared in i'ront 

 and clasping the stamens. Upper flower hermaphrodite, tho 

 flowering glume and palea snbequal, taper-pointed ; the Ibrmer 

 convex, with an awn-like point; the latter dorsally concave, 

 mucronate, eared on each side at base, the ears clasping the 

 flowers. — i^ees, I.e. p. 61. 



B. Eckloniana, Nees, is a handsome grass, common to tho cast of Uitcn- 

 hage. 



6. SETARIA, Beauv. 



Spikelets generally swollen on one side, in dense spiked 

 panicles, or apparently cylindrical spikes, 2-flowered, awnless, 

 with a persistent involucre (abortive branchlets), composed of 

 simple scabrous bristles, principally placed on one side. Outer 

 glumes 2, the lowest very short. Lower flowers male or 

 neuter ; upper flowers hermaphrodite ; the flowering glumes 

 often mucronate, generally wrinkled on the back, and often 

 marked on each side with a curious horseshoe-shaped impres- 

 sion ; otherwise as in Paiiicum. — Panicum, Nees, I.e. p. 52-56 ; 

 Kuntli, Enum.p. 149. 



A widely-distributed genus, affording good fodder grasses. — 8 species at 

 the Cape. 



7. PENICILLARIA, A\nild. 



Spikelets 2-flowered, in a spike-like raceme, each 1-2 spike- 

 lets with an involucre of 2 sorts of bristles ; the outer bristles 

 short, scabrid ; the inner longer, mostly plumose towards the 

 base. Outer glumes 2, very short, membranous, nearly nerve- 

 less. Lower flower either neuter and 1-valve or male 2-valved ; 

 its flowering glume entire or emarginate. Upper flower 

 hermaphrodite, rarely female ; the flowering glume and ])alea 

 convolute, papery, either entire, truncate or 2-fld, hardening 

 in fruit. Anthers bearded at the apex. Grain enclosed in tho 

 flowering glume and palea. — Nces, I.e. p. 71. 



Usually tall grasses, affbi'ding a millet in several species, — P. Plukenetii 

 is in Drege's collections, and P. spicata in Burcliell's. 



8. TRICHOLiENA, Schrad. 



Spikelets in diffiise panicles, 2-flowered. Outer glumes 2, 

 membranous, softly silky, the lower very small or reduced to 

 a silky ring ; upper as long as the lower flowering glume, 

 mucronate or setigerous below the 2-fld a))ex. Lower llower 

 male or neuter, its flowering glume very like the U[)per outer 



