FiNGERHUTHiA, Nees ex Lehin. 



Spikelets strongly laterally compressed, in compact spike-like panicles, jointed 

 on and deciduous from the pedicels ; rhachilla tough. Florets 1, hermaphrodite, 

 or if more then the uppermost male or rudimentary. 



Glumes 2 subequal, narrow, thin, complicate, 1-nerved, keeled, shortly awned 

 or mucronate. Valves oblong to lanceolate, mucronate, rather firm, 7-5- (rarely 

 3) nerved, the upper smaller. Pales slightly shorter than the valves, ovate-oblong, 

 2-keeled, flaps broad. Lodicules 2, cuneate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous, 

 slightly constricted below the apex (at least after fecundation) ; styles distinct, 

 rather long ; stigmas very slender, finely plumose, subterminally exserted. Grain 

 iin known. 



Perennial, ca3spitose ; innovation shoots intravaginal ; blades narrowly 

 linear ; ligule a dense line of silky hairs. 



Panicle compact, spike-like ; the lowest spikelets barren, consisting of a few 

 empty glumes. 



Species 2 in South Africa ; 1 of which is also found on the Afghan-Indian 

 frontier. 



PLATE 451. 



FiNGERHUTHiA SESLERiiEFORMis, Nees. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 692). 



Nat. Order Graminesc. 



Culms very densely tufted on a short oblique rhizome, glabrous, rather robust, 

 1 to 2 feet long, erect, smooth, 2-noded; internodes long exserted ; sheaths tight, 

 smooth, the lower short, very firm, pallid ; blades linear, tapering to a subsetaceous 

 point, 4 to 8 inches long, 1|- to 2^ lines wide when expanded, convolute, rarely 

 flat, rigid, glaucous, smooth below, finely scaberulous above, margins rough. 



Panicle ellipsoid to cylindric, J to 2^ inches, by 5 to 6 lines, sometimes 

 purplish. 



Spikelets 2 to 4-flowered. 2J to 3 lines long. 



Glumes lanceolate in profile, mucronate-acuminate, if to 2 lines long, rigidly 

 ciliolate along the keel. Valves oblong-lanceolate in profile, mucronate-acuminate, 

 or the upper emucronate, about 2 lines long, rather firm except at the narrow 

 hyaline margins, glabrous or scantily aiid miimtely hairy below towards the 

 margins, 5-3-nerved, side nerves rather close, more or less prominent (or the inner 

 evanescent below^ the middle or quite suppressed), joining the middle nerve below 

 the tip. Lodicules obliquely cuneate, 5 line long. Anthers 1 J line long ; styles ^ 

 line long ; stigmas J line long. 



Habitat : Natal. Weenen County, South Downs, 4000 feet alt., December, 

 Wood 4405. 



Fig 1, Spikelet; 2, lower glume; 3, upper glume; 4, valve in profile; 5, valve, back 

 view ; 6, pale ; 7, pistil, stamens, and lodicules. All enlarged. 



