OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 303 



is a great annoyance to man and beast from the prickly 

 calyx (involucrmn) ;" and by Major Denham that from 

 Aghedem to Woodie "it covered the surface of the 

 country, and annoyed the travellers to misery;" he ob- 

 serves also that the seed is called Kasheia, and is eaten. 



Panicum turgidum {Forsk. Arab., /;. 18; Delile, pie 

 Flore d''Fgypte,p. 19, tab. 19,/. 2) is also one of the most 

 common grasses from Tripoli to Bornou. 



Of AcoTTLEDONEs, the Only plant in the collection is 

 Acrostichum velleum, found on the Tarhona mountains. 

 Mr. Ritchie's herbarium contains, also, a single plaut of 

 the same family, namely Grammitis Ceterach. 



The foregoing observations have extended much beyond 

 the limits which the number and importance of the plants 

 they relate to may seem to require. I still regret, how- 

 ever, that I cannot add a few remarks on such species as, 

 although not in the herbarium, were observed, either indi- 

 genous or cultivated, in the countries visited by the mission, 

 and for information respecting which I am indebted to 

 Major Denham and Captain Clapperton. But it being 

 determined no longer to delay the publication of the very 

 interesting Narrative to which the observations already 

 made will form an Appendix, I am unable at present to 

 enter on this part of ray subject. 



