PLATE 106. 



Erianthus capensis (Nees. Fl. Afr. Austr. 93, excl. var. B). 



C'ULMS up to 3 feet and more long, stout, sheathed nearly all along, glabrous. 

 (Sheaths glabrous or scantily and appressedly hirsute near the margins. Ligules 

 al)out 1 line long, roiuided. Blades broadly linear from a narrow base, tapering to 

 a long acute point, flat, firm, smooth, green, densely bearded at the base inside, 

 otherwise glabrous ; !-'■'> feet long, 4-6 lines wide. 



Panicle 1-1^ foot long, linear-oljLmg, usually sheathed at the base, much 

 branched, branches and branchlets sub-erect, filiform, like the rhachis quite glabrous, 

 tlie lowest 3-4 rarely 6 inches long. 



Racemes obscurely aiticulate, tougli, joints e(|uallingor exceeding the spikelets, 

 bearded at base. Pedicels unequal, one very short, the other almost as long as the 

 spikelet, both filiform. 



Spikelets oblong to oblong-lanceolate, i)ale or reddish brown, loosely hairy, 

 2-2|^ lines long, the hairs about ^ line long. Glumes chartaceous, the lower 

 minutely 2-toothed, usually with 2 intracarinal nerves, the U])per broadly lanceolate, 

 boat-shaped, sub-acute, 3-nerved, keeled. Valves, lotro' lanceolate, about as long 

 as the lower glume, hyaline above, 1-3-nerved, ciliate ; ?'y>y>er linear-oblong, acutely 

 bifid, 3-nerved, ciliate, 1-1|^ line long. Awn 2-4 lines long ; column short. Pale 

 very small, long, ciliate. Lodicules cuneate, ciliate. 



Eabitat : Natal. Among reeds by Umlaas River, Kmuss 159; feeder of 

 Tugela River, 1000 feet alt., Bvc/imian 271 ; Zululand, Jeitkinson 82. 



Figured from Jenkinson's specimens, the only ones in the Government 

 Herbarium. 



A genus of 20 or more species, mostly tropical, the one here described being 

 ■so far as at present known the only one found in Natal. It is a coarse grass and 

 of little if any use for pastures. Usually, I think, found in moist places, and in 

 large clumps. The native name is um-Tala, and it is often used by them for 

 thatching purposes. 



Fifr. 1, Portion of inflorescence and leaf, natural size ; 2, lower ghime ; 3, tipper glume ; 

 'I, lower valve ; 5, upper valve ; 6, stamens and pistil. Except ^y. 1, all enlarged. 



