FiNGERHUTHiA, Nees ex Leliiu. 
Spiket.ets strongly laterally compressed, in compact spike-like panicles, jointed 
on and deciduous from the pedicels; rhachilla tough. Florets J, hermaphrodite, 
or if more then the up])ermost male or rudimentary. 
GfATMES 2 subequal, narrow, thin, complicate, 1 -nerved, keeled, shortly awned 
or nnicronate. Valves ohlong to lanceolate, nmcronate, rather firm, 7-5- (rarely 
3) nerved, the up[)er smaller. Pales slightly shorter than the valves, ovate-oblong, 
2- keeled, fla[)S broad. L()dicules 2, cuneate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous, 
slightly constricted below the apex (at least after fecundation) ; styles distinct, 
rather long ; stigmas very slender, finely plumose, subterminally exserted. Grain 
unknown. 
Perennial, ctespitose ; innovation shoots intravaginal ; blades narrowly 
linear ; ligule a dense line of silky hairs. 
Panicle coni})act, spike-like ; the lowest spikelets barren, consisting of a few 
empty glumes. 
Species 2 in Soutli Africa ; 1 of wliich is also found on the Afglian-Indian 
frontier. 
PLATE 451. 
FiNGERHUTHiA SESLERI.EFORMLS, Nees. (Fl. Ca})., Vol. VII., p. 602). 
Nat. Order Grauiinea\ 
Culms very densely tufted on a short obli(jue rhizome, glabrous, rather roljust, 
1 to 2 feet long, erect, smooth, 2-noded, inteniodes long exserted ; sheaths tight, 
smooth, the lower sliort, very firm, pallid ; Ijlades linear, tapering to a subsetaceous 
point, 4 to 8 inches long, \^ to 2^ lines wide when expanded, convolute, rarely 
flat, rigid, glaucous, smooth below, finely scaberulous above, margins rough. 
Panicle ellipsoid to cylindric, ^ to 2^ inches, by 5 to G lines, sometimes 
purplish. 
Spikelets 2 to 4-flowered, 2| to 3 lines long. 
Glumes lanceolate in profile, nmcronate-acuminate, if to 2 lines long, rigidly 
ciliolate along the keel. Valves oblong-lanceolate in profile, mucronate-acuminate, 
or the upper eniucronate, about 2 lines long, rather firm exce})t at the narrow 
hyaline margins, glabrous or scantily and minutely hairy i)elow towards the 
margins, 5-3-nerved, side nerves rather close, more or less ])rominent (or the inner 
evanescent below the middle or quite suppressed), joining the middle nerve below 
the tip. Lodicules obliquely cuneate, j line long. Anthers 1^ line long ; styles ^ 
line long ; stigmas ^ line long. 
Habitat: Natal. Weenen County, South Downs, 4000 feet alt., December, 
Wood 4 405. 
Fig 1, Si>ik('let. ; 2, lower glume; .3, upper glume; 4, valve iu profile; 5, vaKe, l)aek 
view ; 6, pale; 7, pistil, stameus, and lodicules. All enlarged. 
