DACTYLorTF.XTrM, WilM. 
Si'TKKLK'rs o to o-Hdwcred, laterally c'oiu])ivss('(l. (k'liscK- iiiihi'icatc. l)isi'riat{', sessile, 
unilateral on a flattened rhaehis, the uppermost re(liice(l ; i-liachilla tardily disartien- 
lating abo\'e tlie li^lunies, touuii between the ^•alves. Florets hisexiial. the up]»errnost 
rudimentary. 
Glumes '2. unequal, strongly keeled, the Joirer o\ate, acute, thin, persistent, the 
upper elli])tie-ol)long in prohle, obtuse, mueronate or awned, firm, deciduous. 
^'alves ovate, sub-acuminate. .")-nt'r\ed. nuicrouate or aAvned, deciduous Avith the 
gi'ains. Pales al)out as long as the Aalxes, :^-keeled. sul)persistent. ivodieules '2, 
eimeate, minute. Stamens o. ()\'ary glabrous ; stAles distinct, \cr\' long, subtei'- 
minally exserte<h (irain subglol)ose slightly lateral]\' com|)resse(l, not grooveil or 
holloAved, rugose oi- ]tunctate ; ])ericarp \-er\ delicate, irregularly breaking away ; 
embryo scarceh' e({ualling ^ the length of the grain ; hilum basal, punctif'orm. 
Annual or I'EiiKNXiAL. Lea\es flat, subtlaccid. Spikes in umbels of '2 to (5, 
erect or stellately spreading ; tips of the rhnchis barren, mucroniform, usually curved. 
Species 3, one widely sj)read through the tropics. 
PLATE 441. 
Dactyloctentum .EnvPTTACUM, Willd. (Fl. (*ap., Y(d. YIT., p. 040). 
Nat. Order Gramiue;i\ 
AxxTAL, foot high ; stems sometimes prosti'ate. rooting fi'om the i)i'olifei'- 
ousl\- l)ranche<l nodes. ' 
Ci'LMs geniculately ascending. compresse(f, !^-3-noded, glabrous, smooth, inter- 
nodes exserte(l ; sheaths sti'iate, the lower whitish, keeled alxjve, glabrous, or scantily 
hispid : ligules membranous, yery short, scantily eiliolate ; blades Ihiear, tapering to a 
hue ])oint. f to .") inches ])\ 1 to 2 lines, flat, subflaccid. glaucous, glabrous oi- his|)id or 
his])idlv ciliate. hairs tuln'rcle-based. Spikes 2 to (i, rarely solitary, ^ to 2 inches 
Ion<>\ lio'ht or dark oli\ t'-uTev ; rhachis keeled, scal)i'id. 
SriKKl>i:'rs 3 to .VHowered. sj)reading at right angles, n]» to ]l line long, 
glabrc^us. 
(iLUMKS, lower \\\)o\\X \ line long, the }i]yper cus])idately nuicrouate or aw ne( I ; awn 
cur\ ('<l, sometimes .exceeding the glume. A'alves \^ to f^ line long, nuicrouate or 
awned ; anthers about J to \ line long ; grain ^ to | line long, \-ei'y rugose, reddish. 
Widely s])read through tropical and subtro])ical regions. 
HclbitSit : ^ ATM.. \eai' Diu'ban, WUIiamson 3,S ; I^Jaiit S.") : Dui'ban flats, 
Biivlurnau i)^ : Berea. Woiul :)\)2\) : OVr/rrvr/and ^fcK<'n 111 ; Zululand, 1>0(H) b'ct 
alt.. Jenkt)iso)i 7. 
This is the grass so nuich used for lawns in the Colon w Ft w ill succee(l nuder 
lili'ht shade, and in the coast districts keeps green all the winter, and is liked slock. 
Natiye name, is-Inane. 
In " I'seful Plants of the Iskuuf of (iuam," ])ublished l)y the I nited States 
Xational Herbarium, it is stated that this grass is '• edil)le, but coarse and not uuich 
relished by horses." 
Fi<)' 1, A spikelet : 2, lower o-lamo -. iippei- Q-lume ; 4, valve: .), pnle ; fi, pistil, stamens 
and lodicnlos ; 7, ])(trtion of leaf, highly inaiinitied, showing' tabercle-bosed hairs. J// 
fii hirt/rd, 
