PLATE 163. 



Panicum EcKLONii, Nees. (F1. Cap. Vol. Vil., p. 413). 

 Nat. Order Gramiiiea;. 



Perennial, compactly tufted, innovation shoots inti-avaginal. — Culms erect, 

 very s ender, I to li foot long, glabrous, 1-n-oded. 3 to 4 inches above the base, 

 uppermost internode long exserted. 



Leaves crowded at the base, strongly and closely nerved, more or less hirsute 

 vsrith tubercle-based hairs ; sheaths tight, strongly bearded at the nodes and often 

 at the mouth, the lower firm, persistent ; ligule a ciliate rim ; blades linear, acute, 

 l^ to 5 inches long by l|- to 2 lines wide, rather firm, flat, margins very scabrid. 



Panicle erect, linear to oblong, rather lax or contracted, 2 to 4 inches long ; 

 axis filiform, like all its divisions glabrous ; branches alternate, or the lowest 

 2-nate, suberect, loosely divided almost from the base or from ;|- to ^ inch above it, 

 ultimate branchlets 4-1-spikelet, capillary, flexuous ; pedicels 1 to 4 lines long, 

 tips subclavate. 



Spikelets oblong, obtuse, 1^ to Ij line long, erect, glabrous, pallid or tinged 

 with purple. 



Glumes herbaceously membranous, nerves running out into teeth ; lower one 

 broad, ovate, -g- to ^ the length of the spikelet, 3-nerved and 3-toothed ; upper one 

 oblong, 3 to 5-toothed, 5-nerved, equalling f to * the length of the spikelet. 

 Florets, lower one barren, reduced to the valve, which is similar to the upper glume 

 and Ij line long Perfect floret, oblong, acute, equalling the lower floret ; valve 

 subcoriaceous, white or yellowish or purplish towards the minutely hairy, subros- 

 trate tip, 7-nerved. Anther 1 line long. 



Habitat: Natal. Karkloof, April, J. Wylie {Wood 6017); Mooi Eiver, 

 December, Mason 33 {Wood 7318). 



Fig 1, Lower glume ; 2, upper glume ; 3, lower valve ; 4, upper valve ; 5, pale ; 6, pistil, 

 stamens and lodicules. All enlarged. 



