11 



II.— Key to the Genera and Species of 

 South African Grasses. 



1. (a). Spikelets all sessile singly or in clusters in the 



notches of a simple spike, not all on one side of the 



rachis (secund) (Tribe Hordeae). See Fig. 2 A. ... 2 

 (b). Spikelets sessile or slightly pedicellate, all on one side 



of the rachis (secund). See Pig. 2 B. and G 7 



(c). Spikelets neither in the notches of a simple spike nor 



secund. See Pig. 2 D., E., and F 26 



2. Two or more spikelets at each node of the spike. 



Hordeum. 



Spikelets sohtary at the nodes of the spike 3 



8. Side of the spikelet towards the rachis 4 



Edge of spikelet towards the rachis. Lower glume minute 



or 5 



4. Glumes subulate, 1 nerved Secale africanum. 



Glumes not subulate, many nerved 



Agropyrum distichum. 

 5. Flowers 3-many in the spikelet. Valves 5-7 nerved. 



Lolium. 



Flowers i-3 in the spikelet. Valves 1-3 nerved 6 



p. Upper glume 5-7 nerved Leptiirus cylindricus. 



Upper glume 3 nerved Oropetiiim capense. 



7. Two empty valves between the glumes and the perfect 



florets. Spikelets faUing entire with the glumes... 8 



1-0 empty valves between the glumes and the perfect 



florets, or if 2 barren florets occur (Ctenium) then the 



glumes persistent 9 



8. Glumes and empty valves one nerved... Tetrachne dregei. 

 Glumes and empty valves more than one nerved. 



Entoplocamia aristiilata. 



9. Valves one nerved. Strand plant Spartina stricta. 



Valves- more than one nerved 10 



10. Spikelets falling entire. Lower glume smaller or 0. 



Glumes not keeled 11 



Lower glume persistent, distinct and keeled. Upper 

 glume sometimes falling with the spikelet 14 



11. Spikelets sunk in hollows or adpressed to the face of a 



broad rachis. Stein creeping. Stenotaphfum ^abrum. 



Spikelets not sunk in hollows on a broad rachis 12 



2 



