PuALARIS, Lmu. 



Spikelets laterally compressed, in contracted more or less spike-like panicles ; 

 rhachilla disarticulating above the glumes, not or obscurely produced beyond the 

 terminal floret. Florets 3, the lower 2 minute, rudimentary, the uppermost 

 hermaphrodite, enclosed by the glumes. 



Glumes subequal, boat-shaped, keeled, keel often winged. Empty valves 

 very small, subulate to lanceolate, membranous, with a callous base, or 1 or both 

 reduced to a minute callous scale ; fertile valve thin, iiltiraately rigid, 5-nerved, 

 awnless, ovate, acute. Pale almost as long as the valve, 2-nerved (sometimes 

 obscurely). Lodicules 2, hyaline. Stamens 3. Styles long, distinct ; stigmas 

 plumose, exserted from the top of the spikelet. Grain much compressed, ovate, 

 free, enclosed by the valve and pale ; hilum oblong, short, embryo equalling |^ the 

 length of the grain. 



Annuals or Perennials ; leaves flat ; panicle terminal, stiff", spike-like, 

 subcapitate or interrupted and lobed ; pedicels very short. 



Species 10, mainly natives of the Mediterranean region, but widely dispersed 

 as weeds ; 1 species in the boreal region and in South Africa, and another from 

 California to Chile. 



PLATE 448. 



Phalakis minor, lietz. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 682). 



Nat. Order Graminea;. 



Annual. — Culms tufted, erect or ascending, geniculate, 1 to 3 feet long, 

 glabrous, finely striate, 4 to 7-noded ; intornodes gradually longer from the base, 

 up to 5 inches long ; sheaths shorter than the internodes, the lower tight, the 

 upperermost more or less inflated, striate ; ligule scarious, white, obtuse, 1 to 3 

 lines long ; blades linear, gradually tapering, 2 to 6 inches by l^ to 3 lines, flaccid, 

 glabrous, smooth or almost so, margins slightly rough. 



Panicle spike-like, from subglobose to cylindric, up to 2J inches long, 

 compact ; rhachis and branches glabrous 



Spikelets obliquely elliptic, 2 to 2J lines long. 



Glumes subequal, 3-nerved, acute, glabrous, white, nerves green, keel serrulate, 

 ^suddenly contracted below the apex ; lower empty valve a minute callous scale ; 

 upper somewhat subulate, firmly membranous, hairy, with a callous base, up to f 

 line long; fertile valve scantily silky ; pale ciliate on the back, obscurely 2-nerved 

 or almost nerveless ; anthers |^ to f line long ; grain | line long. 



Eabita,t : Natal. Exact locality unknown, Gerrard and McKen, in Natal 

 Government Herbarium, 8915. 



Baron F. v. Mueller says of this grass : "P. Minor is recommended by Dr. 

 Curl for permanent pastures, as it supplies a large quantity of fine, sweet, fattening 

 foliage, relished by stock. It keeps green far into the winter in the climate of 

 New Zealand. 



Fig 1, Spikelet; 2, glume ; 3, upper rudimentary valve; 4, fertile valve; 5, pale ; 6, 

 pistil, stamens and lodicules. All enlar(/ed. 



