PLATE 427. 
Erackostis rATKNTissiMA. Hack. (Fl. (*a])., Vol. YIT., p. C)\:]). 
Nat. Order Gramiiiea;. 
Priienxtal. — CuLMR tnftf'd, sliortly aseendiiijj;, sul)cotnpressed, I to 1 foot 
loiiij,', ulal»rous, sniootli, lew-nodt'd, slieatlied almost to the base of the panicle, 
sheaths lax, ])articiilarly the lower. <>lal)ro(is except at the scantily Ijearded mouth, 
striate ; liij,nle a ciliate rim. iJlades linear to lanceolate-linear, tapering' almost 
from tho hase to a tini^ point, '2 to ;i inches loii^-, 1 to 2j lines wide at tlie hasc. 
Hat or in\'olnte, more or less hair\' on the nj)per siile, otherwise i;'labrons, smooth 
hclow, scabi'id in the n[)per part. 
Panicle erect, ovate-orbicular in outhne, divaricate, effuse, very loose, \\\) to 
8 inches long ; axis glabrous, smooth, subangular, branches solitary, rarely 2-nate, 
subdistichons, lower almost ^ the length of the ])anicle, obli([uely erect, divided 
friMn near the base ; brandies long divaricate, 2-1-spiculate, filiform to subcapillary, 
angular, scabrid ; pedicels ^ to 1^: inch long. 
SriKELETS oblong, compressed, to 4 lines, by t(^ 1-J line, (i-O-flowered, 
light green tinged witli ]iur]ile ; rhachilla persistent, smooth. 
Glttmes subecpial, lanceolate in profile, acuminate, almost 1^- line long, 
herbaceous-membranous, 1 -nerved Valves, ovate-laiiceolate in profile, acuminate, 
1|- line long, firndy membranous ; lateral nerves somewhat prominent, keels 
scaberulous ; ])ales somewhat shorter than the glumes, stronglv curved, keels stout 
and spinulously ciliolate. Anthers § line long. 
Habitat: Natal. Hill t..])s at Qmpumulo, 2700--2S00 feet alt., Biicliaiiaii 
278. 
The drawing of this grass was made from a drawing made at the Herbarium 
of Kew Gardens by Miss M. Smith, by kind jiermission of the Director, as the 
plant in our Herljarium was not complete enough for the })urpose. 
Fig 1, A 8pikelet : 2, glnme ; .3, valve : 4, i)a'e, back view ; -3, pale, lodiculcs and ovary : 
6, stamen ; 7, pistil ; S, uni'ipc (•avvo]isis ; 9, caryopsis. All vnlarijrd. 
