PLATE 475. 
Panicum curvatum, Linn. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p, 414). 
Nat. Order GraraineaB. 
Perennial. — Culms ascending from a decuml)ent or rambling base, very- 
slender, many-noded, glabrous, internodes exserted ; sheaths tight, striate, ciliate 
along the margins, otherwise glabrous or sparsely hairy ; ligule a very narrow, 
minutely ciliolate rim ; blades more or less spi'eading, linear to linear-lanceolate 
from a strongly and suddenly constricted base, tapering to an acute point, 2 to 4 
inches by 2 to 3 lines, flat, thin, glabrous or sparsely hairy towards the base, 
smooth, margins scaberulous. 
Panicle erect, contracted and linear or open and ovate, 1 to 3 inches long ; 
axis slender, smooth ; branches spirally arranged, rather distant, not very mnnerous, 
the lower up to 1^ inch long, loosely divided almost from the base, subcapillary, 
smooth ; lateral pedicels very short and fine, tips discoid. 
Spikelets curved, semi-ovate to suboblong, acute or obtuse, 1 to 1;^ line long, 
green, strongly nerved. 
Glumes, hm-er very minute, In-oadly ovate to orbicular, nerveless ; "uj^per 
e(]ualling the spikelet, very concave, gibbous below, strongly curved, acute or 
obtuse, membranous, 9-ribbed. Florets, hnver barren ; valve oblong or ovate- 
oblong, obtuse, stiaight, equalling the lower glume, herbaceous on the sides and at 
tip, 7-nerved ; perfect floret elli})tic-oblong, acute, f line long, strongly convex ; 
valve chart aceous, very obscurely 5 -nerved ; anthers | line long. 
H£Lhita.t : Natal. Between Unizimkulu River and Umkomanzi River, Drrije, 
4252; co?Liit\Q.\\(\, Sutherland ; near Durban, Williani^ou^ 30; and without precise 
locality, Gerrard 479. 
Also in the Mascarene Islands and in South India. 
Drawn from Gerrard's specimen, which was kindly lent ibr the jjurpose from 
Kew. 
Fig 1, Lower glume : 2, upper glume ; 3, lo^vel valve ; 4, pale ; ■'>, up])er valve ; 6, jiale ; 
7, pi*til, stamens and lodicules. All rnlnnird. 
