Olyra, Linn. 



Spikelets unisequal, heteromorphous, both sexes in tlie same panicle or some- 

 times in different panicles o£ the same or very rarely of different individuals ; rhachilla 

 disarticulating below the valve. Male spikelets smaller than the female, in mixed 

 panicles below them and much more numerous, 1 -flowered. 



Glumes suppressed, indicated by a minute, sometimes obscurely 2-lobed, rim jus-t 

 below the articulation of the rhachilla. A'alve lanceolate to almost subulate in profile, 

 acuminate or caudate-awned, membranous, 3-nerved. Pale shorter than the vahe, 

 2-nerved. Lodicules 3 or (?) Stamens 3. Ovary 0. Female spikelets terminal, 

 or terminal and lateral on the branches or brandilets of the panicle, above the male, 

 1-flowered. Glumes subequal and similar, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate or caudate- 

 awned (particularly the lower), papery or membranous, 3 to 9-nerved, transversely 

 veined, persistent. A'^alve elliptic to lanceolate, awnless, subcoriaceous to hartl, 

 cartilaginous, 5-nerved (or apparently nerveless). Pale similar to the valve in sha]je 

 and substance, 2-nerved. Lodicules 3, truncate-cuneate. Stamens 0. Ovary 

 glabrous, acuminate ; style simple below or beyond the middle ; stigmas plumose, 

 terminally exserted. Grain tightly enclosed by the hardened vahe and pale, biconvex ; 

 embryo short ; hilum linear, almost as long as the grain. 



Branched, tall or dwarf pereiniials ; blades con\o]ute in bud, then flat, often 

 broad and asymmetric, shortly petioled, transversely veined ; ligules papery, very 

 short ; panicles terminal, sometimes with 1 or few axillary additional ones, rarely all 

 axillary, often decompound. 



Species about 20, in tropical America, one of them extending to tropical Africa, 

 the Mascarene Islands and Zululand. 



