Tbichopteryx, Nees. 



Spikelets usually 2-18 lines long, more or less lanceolate to linear, pedicelledr 

 panicled. Rhachilla disarticulating between (and less readily below) the valves, 

 glabrous, not produced beyond the upper floret. Florets 2, heteromorphous ; lower 

 male, rarely barren ; dipper perfect. Glumes persistent, membranous or sub- 

 coriaceous, unequal, 3 (very rarely 4-6) nerved, glabrous or bristly from black 

 glands. Loiver valve membranous, 3 (very rarely 7) nerved, with the innermost 

 side-nerves much shorter ; upper valve terete, membranous to cartilaginous, shortly 

 bifid with the lobes sometimes produced into bristles, 5-9-nerved ; awn from be- 

 tween the lobes, kneed, twisted below. Pales membranous, 2-keeled, narrower in 

 the perfect floret and channelled between the stout keels. Lodicules 2, cuneate, 

 usually very fleshy. Stamens 2, rarely 3, or in the lower floret. Ovary oblong,, 

 glabrous, rudimentary in the male floret ; styles distinct, glabrous, stigmas plumose,, 

 long, laterally exserted. Grain obovoid to linear-oblong, grooved or almost terete,, 

 tightly embraced by its valve and pale, free ; hilum linear, long ; embryo large ; 

 albumen very hard. 



Perennial, rarely annual grasses of very different habit ; leaves more or less 

 rigid; ligules a line of hairs ; spikelets slender, from 2 lines to 1| inch long,, 

 scattered in mostly contracted, narrow panicles, 



PLATE 185. 



Trichopteryx simplex, Hack. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 450). 

 Nat. Order Giamineeo. 



Densely tufted. — Culms 2 to 3 feet long, glabrous, 2 (rarely 3) noded. 



Leaves all but 2 or 3 near the base, sheathing the culms to ^ foot ; sheaths 

 firm, tight, glabrous or more or less hispid, bearded at the nodes, the lowest 

 tomentose at the base and finally splitting into rigid fibres ; blades narrow-linear, 

 tapering to a long setaceous point, J foot by 2 lines or less, flat or convolute, rigid, 

 hirsute or glabrescent. 



Panicle erect, contracted, 6 to 10 inches long ; rhach is glaucous ; branches 

 fascicled or geminate, erect, very unequal, the longest to 2-3 inches long,, 

 filiform, sparingly branched, scabrid or almost smooth 



Spikelets light brown, 5 to 6 lines long. 



Glumes glabrous, rarely sparingly bristly, the loiver lanceolate-oblong, 

 minutely subtruncate, 2j to 3 lines long, the upper lanceolate, produced into a 

 linear convolute truncate beak, 5 to 7 lines long. Florets, loiver male ; valve 

 lanceolate, acute or acutely acuminate, usually shorter than the upj^er glume, 

 glabrous, or with a very few bristles along the outer nerves ; pale linear-oblong, 

 31- lines long. Stamens 2, anthers 1 J to 2 lines long. Perfect floret ; valve oblong- 

 linear, terete, 2|- to 3 lines long (in this and the following species measured from 

 the callus to the base of the awn), pubescent, faintly 7-nerved, shortly bifid ; 

 lobes acute ; callus 2-toothed, villous, bearded, ^ line long ; column of awn 4 ta 

 5 lines long; bristles 9 to 15 lines long; jjale lanceolate, acute, 3 lines long. 

 Stamens as in the male. 



HabitSit: Natal. Umpumulo, Buchanan 294 ; var crinita, Umpumulo, 

 Buchanan 293 ; Inanda, 1800 feet alt., Wood 1580 ; South Downs, 4000-5000 feet 

 alt.. Wood 4404 ; Karkloof, 4000 feet alt., Wylie {Wood 6011) ; Lidgetton, 4000 

 feet alt.. Wood 9095. Also in Transvaal, Poiidoland, and tropical Africa. 



Fig 1, Typ'cal plant ; 2, lower glume ; 3, upper glume ; 4, lower valve ; 5, pale ; 6, upper 

 valve ; 7, pale, ovary and lodicules ; 8, branchlet of var crinita. Except Fig 1, nil enlarged. 



