Tragus, Haller. 
Nat. Order Gramine;e. 
Si'iKELET.s, sessile, in decitluous clusters of '2-4 on the tiliforin cuntiiiuous axis 
of a cvlindric, spike-like panicle; rliacliilla tou!j,h, not continued beyond the Horet. 
Floret 1, perfect, somewhat shorter than the u])per i;lunie. 
Glumes very dissimilar, lom'v facing the rhachis, minute, hyaline, or 
suppressed, upper 5-ribbed or 5-nerved, membranous between the hispidor spine- 
hooked ril)S or nerves, exceeding the valve. Valve lanceolate or lanceolate-ol)long^ 
membranous, 3-nerved. Pale as long as tlie valve, 2-nerved. Lodicules 2, broad, 
cuneate, fleshy. Stamens Styles distinct, very slender ; stigmas narrow, 
plumose, terminally exserted. Grain enclosed by tiie valve and pale, oblong to 
ellipsoid, slightly compressed from the back ; embryo about the length of the 
gram ; hiluni punctiforsn, basal. 
Annual or Perennial. — Culms erect, ascending or decumbent ; l)lades 
linear, rather rigid with cartilaginous spinulously ciliate margins; ligules reduced 
to a delicate, ciliate, rim ; panicles cvlindric, slender; all the S})ikelets of a cluster 
fertile, or often L more or less reduced. 
Species 2, one in South Africa, tlie other throughout the warm parts of Ixith 
lu niispheres. 
PLATE 404. 
Tragus racemosus. All. (Fl. ( iip.. Vol. VII., p. ,577). 
Annual or subferennial (?) — Culms fascicled, simple or branched with the 
branches often fascicled and densely leafy, geniculate, ascending often from a 
decumbent base or wholly decumbent, slender, from a few inches to 1 foot lc)ng, 
glabrous or j)ul)escent near the panic'e, smooth, 3-5-noded, intermediate internodes 
exserted, uppermost 1 or 2 usually enclosed, and from less than 1 to 4 inches long; 
lowest sheaths short, broad, pallid, the following more or less herbaceous, ratlier 
loose, uppermost tumid, usually embracing the base of the panicle ; blades linear 
to lanceolate, acute, ^-2 inches by 1-2 lines, Hat or wavy, rigid, very glaucous, 
closely striate. 
Panicle 1-5 inches long, slender; axis straight or slightly wavy, ])ubescent ; 
brandies very close or tlie lowest distant, very short, 2-;3-spiculate, sometimes 
minutely continued beyond the u})})ermost sjiikelets. 
Spikelets facing each other Avhen paired, l|-2 lines long, one of a cluster 
often reduced ; /o/cer glume verv minute, up to \ line long, liyaline, ciliolate, or 
quite suppressed ; uppci' glume slightlv curved, involute, coiinjletely enveloping 
the floret, strongly 5-ribl)ed, thin beiiween the ribs, these with ro\\-s of stout 
liooked spines. Valve lanceolat^i-oblong, apiculate or mucronulate, line long, 
thinlv membranous, very niinute'y jnibescent, faintly ;3-nerved ; })ale sub-acute, 
obscurelv 2-nerved; anthers ellipsoid, i-J- line long; grain oblong to obovoid- 
ellipsoid, subterete, ^ line long. 
Habitat: Natal. Banks of Tugela River, near Coleiiso, 3000 feet, Wnorl 
4417; banks of Lower Tugela Itiver, GOO feet, B'icIkiiiiah 17o; A\ itliout precise 
locality, (U'ri-<{rd ()7'!. 157. 
Throughout most warm regions. 
This grass is of no economic or agricultural value. 
Fio- 1, C'lustei' of spiki'lets : 2. empty spikelet : .3, lower pliiine; 4. uppei- glume: 5,. 
valve : 6, ])ak,^ ; 7, pistil, stamen^ and lodicules. All rnhirqcil. 
