Pentaschistis.] GRAMINEX (Stapf). 481 
Stamens 3. Ovary oblong, glabrous ; styles distinct, very slender ; 
stigmas plumose, laterally exserted. Grain o oblong, semiterete to 
aGuberte, shallowly grooved in front; hilum obscure, linear-oblong 
4-} the length of the grain; embryo about 2 the length of the grain. 
Perennial, rarely annual; leaves very variable; panicle usually distinctly 
tric hotom ous with swollen and often Lt axils open or sacsariesie: sometimes 
spike-like ; spikelets more or less gliste 
Species over 40, mainly in South, a few in tropical Africa, 1 i 
Peon hes lie , y wi pical Africa, 1 in Madagascar, 
Recognized by Nees as a sub-genus (Ind. Sem. Hort. Bot. Vratisl. 1835); n 
rior parated from Danthonia by endemic distribution, habit and reduction of florets 
Section 1. Panicle eae spikelets 3-8 lin. long; blades mostly filiform- 
Pir long ; peren 
cy ein 4-8 lin. long ; basal sheaths not breaking up 
res: 
Panicle paces when ererts basal sheaths 
broad, silky tomentos 
Schoey 8 lin. . ong Sa i ws Ea oi 
Spikelets 5-6 lin. long (2) viseidula 
oe ‘blog ) sult basal sheaths not silky 
“Blades "father broad, flat or loosely involute 
or fo lds ed; ligular fringe straight : 
Panicle 46 in. lon lets brownish- 
diniasensiioan dl: keel of glumes glabrous 
and smooth; side-bristles of valves 
stiff, 2-24 lin. long (3) pallescens. 
Panicle 2-5 in. long; spikelets ‘silver ry, : 
much ¢' Spiasiiedss keel of glumes ciliate 
ow, scaber Tous a! ove 5 og bristles 
Ut. 
lves very slende mi: oe lin. tt ... (4) argentea. 
- 
nicles Sic, a 4-10 in. long, 
usually dense. blades 1 to more 
than 2 ft. long 
Sheaths broad ligular fringe 
© Spikes me -6 . long ; 
ite 
mooth ; 
(5) nutans, 
erikate tet lin. long ; 
glumes berulous on 
the aA ‘bl sey more or 
(6) tortuosa, 
less 
Sheaths narrow ; Kg te "almost 
wiry, sae nelled ; ligular 
fringe st 
Sh athe aly woolly or 
h 
upper part, 
nee often subflabellate (7) eriostoma. 
y hairy 
len soe gs glabrescent, 
YOU, vn. glabrous, not flabellate (8) j ¥ 
