Stiburus, Sta})f. (Ti-iplilebia, Stapf.) 
►Spikelets laterally c<iin})resse(l, subsessile or shortly ])edicelled, in spike-like 
cyliiidric panicles ; rhacliilla disarticulating above the g'liniies and between the 
valves. Florets 4-5, hermaphrodite, the uppermost reduced, shortly exserted from 
the glumes. 
Glumes equal or subequal, membran(nis, lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, 
1-nerved. Valves very similar to the glumes, l)ut 3-nerved ; callus very minute. 
Pales shorter than the valves, l2-keeled. Lodicules 2, minute, hyaline, cuneate. 
Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous ; styles short, distinct ; stigmas })luniose, laterally 
exserted. Grain enclosed by the hardly changed valve and pale, free, oblong, 
terete ; embryo short ; hilum, basal, punctiform. 
Perennial, tulted ; blades very narrow, usually subsetaceous, long ; ligule a 
clliate rim. 
Panicle cylindric, dense, usually dark purple, greyish-villous. 
Species I, in extra-tropical South Africa and in tropical Transvaal. 
PLATE 452. 
Stiburus alopecuroides, Stapf. (Fl Cap., Vol. VII., j) Ci97). 
Nat. Order Graniinete. 
Densely ca\S)Mtose. — Culms erect, ^ to 1^ foot long, glabrous, simple, or 
branched at the base. 
Leaves all Ijasal, with scattered fine spreading hairs all over to glabrous ; 
sheaths crowded, rather tirin, pallid, smootli, ])ersistent ; blades usually setaceous 
or tiliforin, very acute, 3 to more than 1:2 inches long, sometimes fiat and then uj) 
to 1 line broad, rather rigid 
Panicle ^ to 3 inches by 3 to 3t lines, sometimes interrupted at tiie base ; 
l)ranches solitary, adpressed to the rhacliis ; lowest j to almost 1 inch k)ng, divided 
from the base or nearly so, smooth ; })edicels unequal, mostly very sliort. 
Si'iKELETS about 2 lines long, densely cr(^)\vded, usually dark })urj)le. 
Glumes, valves and pales e(ju;dly villous from fine greyisli liairs. Glumes about 
1|- line long, tips firm, subulate. Valves very slightly sliorter, often mucronulate. 
Anthers f line long. Grain | to 1 line long, reddish brown. 
HabitSit: Natal. Near De Beer's Pass, Wood 5993 ; Noodsl)eig, Wood 884 ; 
Karkloof, BehnuDLU. 73G1 ; Umpumulo to Iliet Vlei, Buc/iancoi 1G6, 1G7 ; and 
witliout })recise locality, Jhicltanau 32 ; (dcD'dvd 474. 
Tills is tiie grass whicli was formerly known in Natal as KceJerid Gerrardii, 
Munro, l)ut ^vhich has now been transferred to tlie geinis Stihurv.^, of whicli it is 
tlie only known representative It is widely distrilnited in the Colony, but is not 
so far as known to us of nmcli, if any, agricultural value. 
Fiij: 1, Spikelet ; 2, glume; 3, valve; 4, pale; 5, pistil, stamens, and lodicules, All 
eiihirtfcd . 
