240 xxviii. GRAMiNE/E. [Eragvostis 



distinguished by its less diffuse panicle, with short branchlets 

 and short-stalked spikelets, also by its glabrous ellipsoidal grain. 

 PuNGO Andongo ? — No. 28626 (no information). 



17. E. agrostoidea Rendle sp. nov. 



Annual, culms ei-ect from an ascending base or spreading 

 and often branching profusely at the strong geniculate nodes^ 

 internodes terete, polished, with a glandular ring just below 

 the brown internode ; leaf-sheaths terete, or subcompressed and 

 often subcarinate, except the lowermost shorter than the inter- 

 nodes, more or less glandular-punctate, cons23icuously hairy at 

 the mouth ; ligule a short dense row of hairs ; blades rigidulous, 

 spreading, linear-tapering, acute, more or less convolute, scabridu- 

 lous, sometimes sparsely hairy lielow, base of midrib with a row 

 of glands ; panicle oblong or ellipsoidal to pyramidal, glabi-ous,. 

 branches spreading or ascending, whorled and scattered, slender, 

 subrigidulous, bearing branchlets or spikelets almost from the 

 base ; spikelets a dull olive-green, generally shortly stalked, soft, 

 subcompressed, compact, linear, generally G- to 8-flowered ; barren 

 glumes thinly membranous, subequal, inconspicuously 1 -nerved, 

 lanceolate to ovate, generally acute, reaching about to the tip of 

 the two lowest fertile glumes, the midrib dorsally subscabridulous 

 in the upper portion, the upper broader than the lower, and often 

 less acute ; fertile glumes glabrous, with rounded back, broadly 

 elliptical to orbicular-ovate, apex rounded or blunt, 3-nerved, 

 the outer nerves submarginal and curved, falling short of 

 the apex; pale persisting after fall of the glume, weakly 

 bicarinate, keels scarcely scabridulous in the upper part ; 

 grain shortly ellipsoidal, pale transparent brown with a darker 

 hilum. 



Plants 8 to 18 in. high, of slender graceful habit, culms more 

 or less rigid with 3 to 4 internodes. Leaf-sheaths generally 

 between 1 and 3 in. long, ligule i line long, leaves 1 to 4 in. 

 Panicle from less than 3 to 6 in. long, generally between 1 and 2 

 in. broad, sometimes broader at the base ; spikelets about 2 lines 

 long or less; barren glumes § to nearly 1 line long, fertile 

 glumes rj to '^ line long, pale slightly shorter ; anthers brown, 

 f line long ; grain \ line. 



Recalls E. pilosa Beauv., but has a stiffer habit, larger sub- 

 equal barjen glumes, etc. Apparently nearest E. porosa Nees, 

 but distinguished by its dark-coloiu-ed, more compact spikelets, 

 and subequal barren glumes. 



Ambaca. — A slender grass with the habit oiAgrost/s, 1 ft. or 1| ft. 

 high ; culms branched. Fields near Ambaca. No. 2746 ; mandioca 

 plantations near Ngombe (Residencia do Distos) but better specimens 

 vainly sought for, No. 7319 ; Oct. 1856. 



LoANDA. — An annual ; somewhat plentiful round ponds and in their 

 clayey bottom when dried up not far from Forte de Concei^-ao, 

 No. 7295 ; and in abandoned fields at Represa do M. Pereira near the 

 river. No. 7295^* ; July 1894. . 



PuNGO Andongo. — Plentiful in sunny rocky places covered with 



