PLATE 411. 
DiPLACHNE BiFLuRA, Hack. (Fl. rjap., Vol. VII., p. 593). 
Nat. Order Graminea^. 
Perexxial, almost glabrous. — Culms tufted on a short oblique rliizome, erect, 
1 to 2 feet long-, terete, simple, slender, rough below the nodes, about 3-noded, 
interncxles usually enclosed except the up|)ermost. 
Leaves crowded near the base ; sheaths tight, terete, scaberulous or smooth, 
firm, the lowest reduced to bladeless scales ; ligule a membranous ciliolate rim ; 
blades linear, tapering to an acute point, 3 to 7 inches, by 2-3 lines, rigidly erect, 
flat or convolute, with scattered stifli" hairs, particularly near the base, rougli on 
both sides, p'laucous. 
Paxicle contracted, obovate to linear-oblong, 2 to 6 inches long, glaucous, 
]3urplish ; rhachis scabrid, angtdar ; branches simple, solitary or paired, sub- 
fle.<;uous, bearing spikelets from the base or almost so, lowest up t<_) 2 inches long. 
Spikelets 2-3-flowered, sul)secund, 2-ranked, loirer slightly exceeding the 
internodes, upper closer, sh<_)rtly l)ut distinctly pedicelled, about 2.^^ lines long. 
Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute, 2 to 2;^ lines long, minutely scaljrid ; 
laargins and tips hyaline ; valves up to '2\^ lines long, entire, acute or very minutely 
2-toothed, very shortly awned from below the readily splitting pruinose tips, 
nerves silky-ciliate to the middle (at least in the lower floret) ; callus minute, 
acute, bearded; pales obtuse, not quite 2 lines long, keels scaljrid ; anthers 1 line 
long ; grain oblong-linear, terete, 1 line long. 
Edbitclt : Natal. Mountain slopes near Umpumulo, 2500 feet alt., Buc/ianan 
282. 
Drawn from Buchanan's 282, the only specimen in the Herbarium. 
A note in the Flora Capensis says : " Rather difl'erent from the other species 
of the genus, and perha])s not a true Diplachne." 
Also in Transvaal and Basutoland. 
Fig ], Lo">ver glume ; 2, upper glume ; 3, valve ; 4, pale ; 5, pistil, stamens and lodieules. 
All cidanjed. 
