PLATE 423. 
Eragrostis Lappula, Nees. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. G27), 
Nat. Order Grainiiieas. 
Perennial, densely ca^spitose. — Culms erect or geniculate, firm, rather stout, 
2 to 3 feet long, glabrous, smooth, about 3-noded, upper internodes (sometimes 
also tlie lower) exserted ; lower sheaths firm, strongly striate, pubescent or 
glabrous, usually bearded at the mouth, persistent, upper tight, glabrous, smooth ; 
ligule a very minutely ciliolate rim ; blades narrow, linear, filiform-convolute, 
tapering to a fine point, G to 12 inches long, 1|- line broad when expanded, rigid, 
flexuous, glabrous or sparsely hairy particulary towards the base, smooth on the 
back, scaberulous or smooth on tlie face, strongly striate. 
Panicle erect or nodding, narrow, linear to lanceolate, contracted, dense, 
sometimes spike-like, 6 to 8 inches long ; axis filiform, smooth ; branches solitary, 
sometimes 2 to 3-nate or irregularly approximate, adpressed, lower up to 4 inches 
long, undivided for 1 to inch or like the others divided from near the base ; 
branchlets somewhat distant, ad})ressed, simple or again divided ; lateral pedicels 
very short; all the divisions finely filiform, angular, smooth or scaberulous. 
Spikelets oblong, to 4 lines long, brownish or pui'plish, loosely 4 to 
17-flowered ; rhachilla persistent. 
Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute, 1 line long, tliin, deciduous, keel scabrid. 
Valves somewhat spreading, stiff, lanceolate in profile, acute, 1 line long or slightly 
longer, membranous, side-nerves prominent, like tlie keels rigidly ciliate, with the 
cilia tubercle-based (or rarely with the keels glabrous). Pales equal to the valves, 
keels tubercled, long and rigidly ciliate from the tubercles. Anthers over |- line 
long. 
Habitat : Natal. Near Diu'ban, Drcge ; Plant (33 ; Gerrard 33, 475 ; 
WiUianison 57 ; ]Voo<l G047 ; Relnnanii 8630 ; Berea, Wood 5938 ; Zululand, 
Buc/taimn 301. 
Fi<;' ], Lo-.ver g4nme ; 2, upper ghuiie ; 3, valve ; 4. pale : 5, pistil, stamens aud lodicales. 
All enlarr/ed. 
