252 XXV1II, GRAMINEA. [Lragrostis 
the keels conspicuously scabridulous in the upper } and as in the 
flowering glumes forming cuspidate apices, the upper slightly 
larger with ciliolate margin; flowering glumes membranous, 
densely imbricate on the stout obscurely articulate rhachis, very 
broadly ovate, violet, lateral nerves strongly marked up to about 
the middle, ceasing below the apex; pale much smaller, hyaline, 
keels deep violet, scabridulous, back oval when flattened. 
Described by Welwitsch as of a splendid violet colour when 
alive, and by far the most elegant grass which he collected in 
Africa. Plants not exceeding 8 in. in height, lower internodes 
rarely exceeding 3 line in thickness, sheaths } to barely 1 in. long ; 
ligule about 3 line long ; leaves reaching 2} in. long by 1} line 
broad. Panicle 13 to 3 in. long by } to nearly 2 in. broad, 
branches 5 or fewer, 13 in. long or less. Spikelets $ to } line 
long by 3 in. or little more in breadth, with 20 to 30 flowers; 
barren glumes 13 and 12 line respectively, fertile glumes from 
14 to 2 lines long and 1 to 1} line broad, pale from 1 to barely 
14 line; anthers reaching ? line. 
A very well marked species allied to #. superba Wawr. & Peyr., 
but distinguished at once by its longer spikelets, characteristic 
cuspidate glumes, etc. 
MossaMEDES AND Capo NeEGcRO.—On dry low hills near Villa de 
Mossamedes, growing plentifully with Euphorbia, but almost past 
flowering ; beginning of July 1859. No. 2300. 
38. E. cylindrispica Rendle sp. nov. 
A exspitose annual, culms erect, slightly spreading at the base, 
branched, internodes 3 to 5, except the flowering short, glabrous, 
subcompressed ; nodes brownish, glabrous; sheaths compressed, 
striate, scabridulously pilose like the leaf-blades, the lower exceed- 
ing the internodes, the upper (next to the flowering) about 4 to + 
shorter ; ligule a line of hairs barely 1 line long ; blades narrowly 
linear-lanceolate, tapering, acute, membranous when dry, pro- 
minently 5- to 7-veined on the lower face, which is especially 
scabrid; panicle narrow, almost cylindrical, rhachis strong, 
glabrous, with 2 well-marked lateral furrows in each of which is 
inserted a row of shortened branches bearing 5 to 2 sessile, 
flattened, ovate spikelets of 14 to 20 densely packed florets; 
rhachis articulate between the glumes; barren glumes resembling 
the fertile but generally narrower with a longer cusp, ovate, 
3-nerved, with strong scabridulous keels passing above into the 
linear cusp, subequal; fertile glumes coriaceous, yellowish-green, 
orbicular-ovate, very concave, abruptly acute, apex strong, lateral 
nerves reaching almost to the tip, keeled in the upper 2, upper 
part of keel minutely scabridulous ; pale slightly shorter, mem- 
branous, very broad, rhomboidal-ovate from the strong broadly 
winged keels the edges of which often project beyond the glumes, 
veins strong, not carinate. 
A rather stiff but elegant plant, culms reaching 15 in. in length, 
internodes (excluding the flowering) from } to 14 or sometimes 
