PLATE 196. 



Agrostis lachnantha, Nees. (Fl. Cap., Vol. Vil., p. 549). 



Nat. Order Gramineae. 



Perennial or Annual, glabrous. 



CoLMS erect or geniculate-ascending, J to 2 feet long, smooth or scaberulous 

 below the nodes, 2 to 4-noded ; leaf-sheaths minutely scaberulous ; ligule 1 to 2J 

 lines long ; blades linear, tapering to an acute point, 1 J to 8 inches by 1 to 2 

 lines, green or subglaucous, flat, flaccid, scaberulous on both. sides. 



Panicle contracted, narrow, 2 to 12 inches long, erect, branches very unequal, 

 in distant fascicles, the longest up to 4 inches, or all very short, capillary, erect or 

 flexuous, scabrid, branched from the base br the longer ones simple for ^ to 1 inch ; 

 pedicels mostly as long as or shorter than the spikelets, the latter light green, | to 

 I5 line long, shining ; rhachilla not produced. 



Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acutely subacuminate, keels rather stout, 

 scabrid ; valve oblong, truncate, f to 1 line long, hairy, often only along the 

 side-nerves, rarely glabrous, 3-nerved.. sometimes mucronate ; callus scantily 

 bearded ; pale 2 to f line long ; anthers ^ line long ; grain oblong, |- line long. 



Eabiiat : Natal. CJmpumulo, 2000 feet alt., common by streamlets, Buchanan 

 280 ; Riet Vlei, 4000 to 5000 feet alt., Buchanan 286 ; marshy ground near Mooi 

 Eiver, 4000 feet alt.. Mason 51, 65, 69. 



Also in Abyssinia. A very variable plant, so far as size and habit are 

 concerned. 



Fig 1, Glume ; 2, valve ; 3, pale. All enlarged. 



