PLATE 472. 
Pantoum pyramtdale, Lam. (Fl. C'a])., Vol. YIL, p. 395). 
Nat. Order Graniineno. 
Perennial. — Culms erect from a geniculate or prostrate base, or tloating, 
terete, up to 15 feet \i\g,h, in tall specimens verv robust, as thick below as the 
middle finger or thicker, often with whorls of long roots from the submerged nodes, 
sheathed all along or some of the internodes at length exserted, many-noded ; 
sheaths striate, smooth, glabrous, rarely his])id, terete ; ligule a fringe of hairs. 
Blades linear from a rather broad and rounded, or from a slightly attenuate and 
decurrent base, long tapering to a tine point, I to 2 feet by 3 to 12 lines, flat, firm, 
glal)rous, often more or less glaucous, smooth above, scabi'id below in the upper 
part, margins cartilaginous, spinulous or scal)rid or smootli below, midrib usually 
broad, whitish. 
Panicle erect, rarely nodding, usually linear-ol)long, dense, |- to 1 foot long, 
facing all sides or sometimes subsecund ; axis stout, .'3 to 4 angular, sulcate, 
hispidulous ov glabrous and smf)oth except tlie scabrid angles, usually with a fringe 
of hairs at the ncxles ; brandies very many, some solitary, others 2-nate or fascicled, 
the lowest distant, the others rather close, suberect, strict or tlexuous, rarely 
nodding, I to 3 inches long, forming moderately dense simple or sulxsimple spikes ; 
rhachis slender, triipietrous, hispidulous or glabrous ; pedicels fascicled, very short, 
tips discoid. 
Spikelets ovoid, cuspidate, to 2 lines long, greenish or variegated with 
purple. 
Glttmrs herbaceous-membranous ; lower broadly ovate, clasping at the base, 
acute, about, half tlie lengtli of the spikelet, 5-nerved, margins scabrid or ciliate ; 
upj)er glume ovate to ovate-oblong, shortly acuminate, very concave, scarcely 
shorter than the s})ikelet, 5 to 7-nerve(l, minutely and rigidly pubescent or sub- 
glabrous between the scabrid or spinulous nerves. Florets, loirer male, valve 
similar to the upper glume, flat on the back, pale oblong, subacuminate, keels 
scabrid. Anthers ^ to 1 line long. Perfect floret usually elliptic, rarely oblong, 
cuspidate, to 2 lines long, straw-coloured, smooth, valve coriaceous, 5-nerved. 
The typical form is conuiion throughout tropical Africa, sometimes covering 
large areas in and near stagnant water. 
HSLbit£it : Natal. Valley of the Umgeni lliver, Di'ef/c 4242; near Verulam, 
200-300 feet alt., Wood 8877.' 
Drawn from Wood's specimen. 
Fig 1, Ehacliis and spikelets ; '2, lower glume ; 3, upper glume ; 4, lower valv^e ; .5, pale ; 
6, stamens and lodicules ; 7, uppei' glume; 8, pale; 9, pistil, stamens, and lodicules. Al( 
('nlarf/rd, 
