Antkisiiria.] clxxiii. geamine*. (J. D. Hooker.) 211 



male or neuter, involuoriform, awnless, in superposed pairs or whorled round 

 a jointed rachis which bears one or more sessile bisexual or fern, usually 

 awned spikelets, each with one or if more than one then the uppermost 

 with pedioelled male or neuter awnless spikelets inserted on its 

 callus. Bisexual {or fern.) spikelets linear-oblong ; callus long or 

 short; gl. I terete, or dorsally compressed or channelled, coriaceous, 

 at length hardened, margins incurved not keeled ; II as long, 

 coriaceous, 3-nerved, keeled, keel broad, margins thin incurved ; 

 III oblong, hyaline, l-nerved ; IV the very slender sometimes narrowly 

 hyaline base of an awn, rarely awnless ; palea 0. LoAiculea cuneate. 

 Stamens 3. Styles free, and stigmas long. Grain oblong. Pedicelled 

 spikelets lanceolate, dorsally compressed ; pedicels slender, compressed ; 

 gis. 1-3, I many-nerved, margins inflexed, keels often winged; II as 

 long as I, 1-3-nerved, hyaline, or 0; III smaller or 0. — Species about 10 j 

 warm regions of the Old World. 



The species of this genus are most difficult of discrimination, of which the best 

 proof is the irreconcilable conclusions of two excellent botanists, both experts in the 

 Order of Qrmninece, Andersaon {in Nov. Act. TTpsal. III. ii. (1856), and Hackel 

 {Monogr. Androp.). 



Hackel has restored Porskahl's name of Themeda because of its having four years 

 of priority, and of Linnsans' description of Anthistiria being very inaccurate. The 

 claim of priority is obvious, but if that of inaccurate description is admitted, it 

 should invalidate the recognition of a host of the genera of old authors. Against both 

 claims stands the fact, that Anthistiria had for upwards of a century been adopted 

 by all botanical writers. 



* Involuorant spikelets inserted on a level, all sessile; glumes 3, 

 solitary in A. arguens. 



1. A. argruens, Willd. Sp. Fl. iv. 901 ; annual, spikes in lax nod- 

 ding heads, outer spathes 3-5 in. very narrow base hirsute, proper spathes 

 5-1 in., involucr. spikelets 2-4 i-g in. unequal, glume solitary. Kunth 

 Ewum. PI. i. 482 ; Bteud. Syn. Oram. 401, A. frondosa, Br, Prodr, 

 200; BentA. JPl. Austral, vii. 542. A. arnndinacea, Sassk. in Tijdse/ir. 

 Nat. Gesch. x. 115 {non Bomb.). A. oiliata var. Junehubniana, Biise ex 

 Miq. Fl Ind. Bat. iii. 504. A. pilifera, Bteud. in Zoll. Syst. Verz. 58, 

 Syn. PI. Gram. 400. A. Junghuhniana, Kees in Jung. Jav. em Anderss. in 

 Nov. Act. TJpsdl. 8er. III. ii. 233. Aristaria barbata, Jungh. in Tijdschr, 

 Nat. Gesch. vii. 296. Themeda arguens, Saoh, Monogr, Androp. 657, 

 Stipa arguens, Linn. Sp. PI. Ed. II. 117. 



Malacca, Grjffiih. Andaman Islbs., Prain. — Diste:b. Malaya, Australia. 



Siems tall or short, sometimes 10 ft. high, stout or slender. Leaves 10-16 by 

 i in. or narrower, and sheaths glabrous or sparsely hairy j ligule rounded. Heads of 

 spikes flabellifor'm, long-peduncled j spikes with often imperfect scattered linear 

 hyaline spikelets on the peduncle. Invol. spikelets very irregular, often only 2, 

 linear-lanceolate, hyaline, 5-6-nerved. Bisenoual spikelets i-^ in., solitary, cylindric, 

 with a long pungent dorsally brown-bearded callus, brown when ripe, obscurely 

 nerved, smooth and dotted below, scabrid and hispid towards the tip. Awn very 

 stout, often 3 in, long, dark brown.^The Malaccan specimens are small (1-2 ft.), 

 and weaker than the insular, 



2. A, imberblS) Betti. Ohs. iii. 11 ; perflnnial, spikes in globose or 

 faBrshaped fascicles, spathes glabrous or sparsely hairy, outer 1-2 in., 

 •proper about ^ in., invol. spikelets J-i in. glabrous or oiliate with tubercle- 

 based hairs gis. 3, bisexual spikelets solitary J-| in. with 2 pedioelled 



P 2 



