636 GRAMINEH (Stapf). [ Microchloa. 
compressed, embraced by the unchanged valve and po free ; hilum 
punctiform ; embryo equalling 1—} the length of the grain 
rennial, rarely annual, sometimes densely tufted; leaves narrow, often 
subsetaceous ; ligule reduced a Sanactie ciliolate rim ; ‘spikes ee sea 
(in the African apeuioa) or 2— a terminal umbel, straight or curved. 
Species 7; 1 widely uated throughout the tropics, 3 in Africa, 3 in 
Australia. 
we bee 1-flowered : 
s 1-1} lin. long; valve abruptly and shortly 
aor ‘like the pale long ciliate along the 
nerves ss ... (1) setacea. 
Spikelets 13-21 lin. long; valve minutely cuspidate, 
like bey pale ciliate along the nerves except at the 
glabrous tips (2) caffra. 
Spikelets with 2 valves ; the lower with a “hermaphrodite, 
the upper with a male flower or empty . (8) altera. 
1. M. setacea (R. Br. Prodr. 208); perennial, esspitose or 
annual; eulms geniculate-erect, very slender, branched or almost 
simple, from 2 in. to more than 1 ft. long 
1 
tumid, compressed, keeled, glabrous, smooth, the basal persistent, 
breaking ae into fibres ; blades subsetaceous with an acute or callous 
1-6 in. long, very slender, usually curved, afieh purplish; aie 
ikel al 
in 
single row, 1-11 lin. long, glabrous; glumes lanceolate-oblong, acute 
to cuspidate- acuminate, the | oes: slightly longer, ge et ; valve 
abruptly and shortly acuminate, sometimes mucronulate, up to { lin. 
long, very densely hairy along the nerves ; ; pale ciliate on the nerves ; 
anthers 1-1 lin. long; grain dorsally compressed, over } lin. long. 
ec. 
oe ee8 
21, fig.2; Oliv. in raat Line. Soc. xxix. 173; Engl Hochgebrgs 
Trop. Afr. 131; Durand § Schinz, Consp. Fl. “Afr. 6; Hook. f- 
Fil. Brit. Ind. vii. 283. M. abyssinica, Hochst. ex ue ach Tent. 
Fil. Abyss. ii. 404; Steud. Syn. Pl. Glum, i. 202; goa in Bull. 
Herb. rare il. App. i li. 31. Rottboellia setacea, Roxb. Pl. Corom. 
KALAHARI REGION: Transvaal ; Houtbosch, Rehmann, 5725! 
Throughout the tropics. 
2. M. caffra (Nees, Fl. Afr. Austr, 246); perennial, compactly 
ag ; culms erect or Lege tg aoa very slender, se 
ed, ogee 
es exserted, the e uppermost by far ides longest ; leaves crowded at 
the base ; sheaths tight or the uppermost subtumid, glabrous or ciliate 
ee re Ray oe ye ee 
SERN Ree IT ye Cte a gh = 
Beep noe eee gph eR ee 
