PLATE 182. 



Melinis MiNUTiFLORA, Beauv. var pilosa, Stapf. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VIL, p 447). 



Nat. Order Graminese. 



Perennial or Annual (?) — Culms 1 to 3 feet high, more or less hirsute 

 except at the upper nodes. 



Leaves loosely hirsute to tomentose ; sheaths tight, terete, striate, finely 

 tubercled ; blades linear to linear-lanceolate, long tapering to a very fine point, 2 

 to 6 inches by 2^ to 4|- lines, rather rigid, flat or involute. 



Panicle linear to linear-oblong, contracted or almost spike-like, 4 to 8 inches 

 long, erect, stiff" or rather flexubus ; rhachis slender, angular, smooth below ; 

 branches 2-nate or the lower in scanty fascicles, erect, up to 3 inches long, dis- 

 tantly and repeatedly divided from the base ; branchlets and pedicels capillary, 

 flexuous, puberulous, the latter very unequal, up to almost 2 lines long, with or 

 without white, stiff', fine hairs below the tips. 



Spikelets 1 line long, very minutely bearded at the base. 



Glumes, lower very minute, oblong*, obtuse, nerveless, vppef equalling the 

 spikelet, linear-oblong, like the lower valve, more or less hairy above the base, 

 hairs white, very fine ; awn of the lower valve very slender, scaberulous, up to 4 

 lines long. Perfect floret f line long, glabrous. Anthers J line long. 



Eabitat : Natal. Near Umpumulo hills, 2000 to 2500 feet alt., Buchanan 299. 



Also in Nyassaland and on Mount Ruwenzori. 



The typical form, which is very common in Brazil, and occurs also in tropical 

 Africa and Madagascai, only differs in being completely glabrous, and in the 

 occasional absence of awns. 



Fig 1, Upper glume ; 2, lower valve ; 3 upper valve ; 4, pale. All enlarged. 



Arundinella, Raddi. 



Spikelets small, 2^ lines to less than 1 line long, acute or acuminate, panicled, 

 continuous with or imperfectly jointed on the pedicels ; rhachilla disarticulating 

 between the valves, glabrous, not produced beyond the upper floret. Florets 2, 

 heteromorphous, lotver male, rarely barren or perfect, upper perfect. Glumes per- 

 sistent, acuminate, membranous, strongly 3-5-nerved, upper usually longer. Loiver 

 valve thin, equalling the lower glume or slightly longer, subacute or minutely 

 truncate, 3-7-nerved ; upper valve terete, rarely dorsally subcompressed, thin, 

 finally cartilaginous, entire or minutely bifid, 3-7-nerved, minutely scaberulous, 

 lobes sometimes produced into fine bristles ; awn terminal or from between the 

 lobes, short, kneed or straight, or ; callous very short, obtuse. Pales linear, 

 2-keeled ; flaps more or less auricled. Lodicules 2, cuneate, rather fleshy or in 

 the lower floret. Stamens 3 or in the lower floret. Ovary glabrous, oblong or 

 more or less arrested or in the lower floret ; styles distinct ; stigmas plumose, 

 laterally exserted. Grain oblong to ellipsoid, terete or dorsally subcompressed, 

 tightly embraced by the valve and pale, free ; hilum punctiform ; embryo large ; 

 albumen hard. 



Perennial, rarely annual; leaves various; panicles usually rather stiff; 

 branches stiff, divided from the base. 



About 25 species, mainly in tropical Asia and America. 



