POGONARTHRIA, Stapf. 
Spikelets laterally com])ressecl, subsessile, more or less imljricate, secuncl on 
the irregularly spirally arranged branches of a panicle ; rhachilla disarticulating 
above tha glumes and between the valves, ti|)S of the joints ciliate. Florets 2 to 8, 
perfect. 
Glumes rigidly membranous, 1 -nerved. Valves oljlong, rigidly membranous, 
acuminate, quite glabrous, ;3-nerved ; side-nerves evanescent above the middle. 
Pales 2-keeled, slightly shorter than the valves. Lodicules 2, minute, delicate. 
Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous ; styles distinct ; stigmas plumose. Grain tightly 
embraced by the scarcely altered valve and pale, linear-oblong, obtusely triquetrous 
or oval in cross section ; embryo less than |- the length of the grain ; hilum basal, 
punctiforin. 
Perennial, stiff; blades rigid, usually convolute; ligule a fringe of cilia; 
panicles straight, with spreading more or less curved branches in irregular spirals ; 
spikelets secund, crowded, livid,' purplish or dark grey. 
Species 1, in tropical South-East Africa, and in extra-tropical South Africa. 
Hackel, who described the only species of this genius under Leptoclihxj , has 
alreadv reuiarked that it differs considerably from all other S])ecies of LeptochJoa. 
Tlie dilfereuces exist mainlv in the coarse rigid habit and in the structure of the 
spikelets, the glumes and valves of whicli are more rigidly membranous, livid 
purplish or dark grey, and quite glabrous, whilst the tips of the rhachilla joints 
are ciliate ; the valves resemble more those of Eiru/ivstis than of L('i>tncliloa, and 
the affinity of the genus lies most certainly witli tlie former. 
PLATE 409. 
POGONARTHRIA FALCATA, Piendle. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 581)). 
Nat. Oi'der Gramineas. 
Perennial, ca^spitose, quite glabrous except the mouth of tlie slieath. 
Culms strictly erect or subgeniculate, 1 to 2|- feet long, terete, smooth, about 
3-noded, internodes exserted ; sheaths tight, terete, smooth, mouth liearded ; ligule 
a fringe of minute cilia ; blades linear, setaceously attenuated, 4 to 8 inches, by 1 
to 2 lines, flat or more often convolute, rigid, subglaucous, quite smooth, striate. 
Panicle linear, 4 to 10 inches, by ^ to 2 inches, usually straight ; rhachis 
sulcate, scaberulous ; branches often 2 to 5 close together, more or less spreading, 
usually curved, up to 1 inch long, fiat on the back, wavy, simjjle, Ijearing s})ikelets 
fronr the base, scabrid. 
Spikelets 1^ to 3 lines long, livid, purplish or dark grey ; rhachilla joints 
up to \ line long. 
Glumes lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, reddish, subacuminate, scaberulous, 
lower I to ^ line long, vpper \ to 1 line long. Valves 'anceolate in profile, oljlong 
when expanded, acutely acuminate or mucronulate, 1 line long ; callus very minute, 
obtuse, glabrous ; pales 1 line long ; ket Is scabrid ; lodicules -g- line long; anthers 
§ to ^ line long ; grain linear-oblong, oval in cross section, f line long. 
EabitSit : Natal. Tugela River, GOO feet alt., Buchanan 242 ; Umlaas Drift, 
Wood 1910 ; near Dundee," IF. JE. Green 98 {Wood 7453). 
Also in tropical South Africa as far as the Zambesi. 
Fig 1, Lower gliiiiic : 2. upper glnnie : 3, valve ; 4, pale : 5, pistil, stamens and lodicules. 
A/l cnhirf/c(l. 
