PLATE 101. 



Imperata arundinacea (Cyr, PL Ear. Neap. fasc. ii. 26, t. 11, and in Usteri, 



Ann. Bot. xiii. 61). 



Perennial, rather coarse, few culms in a stool ; on jointed creeping root- 

 stocks, which are completely clothed with imbricate, leafy, veiny scales. 



Culms, I|-4 feet long, erect, 3-4-noded, glabrous. Sheaths rather loose,, 

 glabrous, the lowest at length breaking up into fibres ; ligules membranous, short, 

 hairy. Blades linear from a very narrow base, tapering to an acute point, the 

 lowest ^-1 foot long, by 1-2 lines broad, the upper very short, rigid, usually con- 

 volute, glabrous or bearded at the base, smooth below, margin scabrid, midrib stout. 



Panicle spiciform, 2-8 inches long, cylindric, very dense, branches and 

 branchlets very numerous, crowded, appressed, pedicels fine, with clavate tips, 

 |-1^ line long, with fine long hairs below. 



Spikelets about 2^ lines long, pale or purplish, enveloped by hairs 5-6 lines 

 long. Glumes ovate-oblong, to ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or subobtuse, with the tips 

 ciliate, usually 5-7 -nerved. Valves, lower oblong, obtuse, denticulate, ciliate, 

 nerveless ; upper ovate, acute, glabrous, nerveless. Anthers l|~2;|- lines long. 

 Stigmas 1|-2|^ lines long, pm^ple. 



Eabita,t : Natal. Coast districts generally. Dundee, W. E. Green, 70 ; 

 Zululand, H. D. Jenkinson, 66. 



Drawn and described from specimens gathered near Durban, February, 1899. 



This genus includes five closely allied species, all natives of warm countries. 

 The present species is common in moist ground in the coast districts, and extends 

 to the tiplands and Zululand. It has little if any value as a pasture grass, and its 

 presence is, I think, usually indicative of a moist subsoil, but further information 

 on this point is desirable. I have not been able to ascertain its native name. 

 Baron F. v. Mueller says of it : — " The Lalang grass of India. Structurally almost 

 a Sugar Cane in miniature. Valuable for binding sand, especially in wet localities. 

 Available also for thatching, and for litter of resisting qualities. Pretty in table 

 bouquets. Apt to become irrepressible in cultivated ground. Browsed on by 

 pasture animals, though harsh ; ought to be suitable for ensilage." 

 t 



Fig. 1, Plant reduced ; 2, lower glume ; 3, upper glume ; 4, lowest valve ; 5, upper valve ; 

 6, pale ; 7, ovary, stamens, style and stigmas ; 8, branchlet with spikelets ; 9, pedicels after 

 disarticulation. Except Jig. 1, all enlarged. 



