Si'iKKl.irrs .'l-d-tlowci'cil. l;iri'i':ill\- com pressed. dciiscK- iiiild-icnlc, ;ilferii:ik'ly 
l»is(']'i;ir('. luiihitci'iil. scssiJc on a Hattciied rliachis. the iip])ei"inost tenniiial. perfect ; 
rliacliilla disarticulatiii^ii" al)o\e the ^uluiiies and between the Aal\es, or tou,L;'li. ])i"o<hiced 
s(.)nietinies terminating with a rudimentary \al\'e. I'dorets perfect. 
<inMKs i\ sulx'(pial. ])ersistent. ol)tuse or ol)scurelN- mucronate. memhranous, 
stronu'ly ki'cled, o to ")-ner\'e(l. the lateral ner\n's close to the keel, the lower siiortei", 
w itii the keel eivsted. \ al\es \er\' siniilai'. o-uerxed near tlie base ; lateral nerves 
sul)mar<iinal al)o\'e. w ith 1-:^ sliort additional nerves close to the keel. Pales slightly 
shorter than the \al\'es. l^dceeled. keels \\inge(l. Lodicules 'l, minute, cuiieate. 
Stamens ()\ai-\- glahrous : stx ies slender from a Ijroadened l.)ase, distinct ; stigmas, 
plumose. latei'alK' exsei'ted. (ii'ain hroadK-oMong to glohose, l)i"oadl\' groo\ed ; 
pei'icarp loose, delicate, hreakiiig up iri'cgtilai'h' or almost cii'cumscissile ; seed finely 
striate : emhryo snhorhiculai', has.-il : hiluni punctiform, f»asal. 
.VxNt Ai, oi; ri:i!i:xMAi, : lea\es long. flat, or folded, flaccid or hi'ni : spikes in 
iutei-rupted spikes oi' [he up])ei' oi' all in a terminal miihel. sti'aight. suhereel . spreading 
or dellexed : spikelets gialii'ous. 
S|)ecies (i, in tix)pical Afi'iea and Asia : 1 wideK' s])read through the tro])ics. 
PLATE 439. 
I'h.Kl sixt: iXDIcA. (ia'riu. (kl. (ap.. \'ol. \'ll.. p. (il.i). 
Xal. ( )i-dcr < iraminea'. 
.\nm ai,. — (' I I, MS creel or geuicnlalc-ci'cct. from a lew inches (o '1 feet long, 
slendci' or sioul, conipi'cssed. :^-.')-no(le(l, glahi'ous, smooth, uppei" iiileriiodes exsei'ted. 
Ll'.A \ Ks often numerous, ci'owded near the hase and conspicuously <lis(ichous ; 
slic.allis compi'essec I. pallid, glabrous except al the oTtt'U ciliate margins, sti'iate ; ligules 
thin, meml )i'anous. short. long-fimf)riate : hiadcs liiieai'. long, tapering to an acute 
])()int .7 to more than 1 foot 1)\' 1^ to .'i lines, Hat oi' folded, sometimes flaccid, glahi'ous, 
i'ai"el\' sparingK" hair\' helow. smooth. Spikes rather slender, straight. 1 to 7 inches 
long, sessile, 1^ to I I in a (ermiiial inuliel, usualK' with 1-2 (I'ai'ely to 7) additional 
sj)ikes I to .') inches helow it : rhachis puhescent to \illous at the base, othei-wise 
glahi'ous, smooth. 
SriKKi.KTS l|-lo 'I lines long. ,') lo li-llowered, disarticulating al»o\e the glumes 
and \cry tardily or lough hclwceu the \'al\es. 
( i LT \1 i;s and \ al\ cs o\ ate, (lanceolale-ohlong in pi'(jtile) acute, the latter about '1 
lines long. .\nthers ;^ line long. <ii-ain oblong: see(| heart-shaped in ci'oss section, 
line long, dark reddish bi'own. obli(piel\- striate : cmbr\() small. 
HahitSit : Xa i ai,. Dm'ban klat. li'u-jianair I I ; .'l;; ; Uerea, \Vi}(i<] .V.M.x; : from 
the coast to I mpumulo in neglected 'j;;\r(\v\\f^. Bvc/ufitdn IS! ; without |)re<'ise localit \ , 
(jlerrard G!) I : d^in'r :\:\(\\ : Mooi' Kiver, W. T. Woods. 
Drawn fi'om specinu'ns gathei'e(| near l)in'ban. 
'ri'oj)ics of the Old World : introduced (?) in tlu' New A^^»rld. 
A \ery common grass almost all oxci- the ('olonw fre(juentlv found neai- Cattle 
Kraals, it has a, strong root system, and is a luiisance amongst cro])S if allowed to attain 
any size. The roots are said to l)e useil in some countries medicinally. 
Xati^"e name u-Mnnyankomo. 
Fii;' 1, A sj)ikelet : 2, leAvei' uluiiic : 3, ii))pcr n'lume : 4, valve : .5, valve in })rolilc : (>, 
pale : 7 pistil, slaiiieus aud ludicule;?. All cnlunjaL 
