PLATE 488. 
Aristida bii\\ktita. Rii])i-. Trill. (Kl. Cap., Vol. N IL, p. ooS). 
Nat. Order Grainineie. 
Perennial, lisilit green to glaucous. Khizoiue short, oblique with compact tufts 
of short barren shoots and culms, these erect or ascending, I to feet long, simple, 
terete or com]>ressed below, smooth, glabrous, rarely puberulous below the nodes, 
about 3-noded : basal sheaths short, compressed, firm, persistent, whitish, the upper 
widened and loose in the upper ]>art, at length open, smooth or bearded at the mouth ; 
blades verv narrow, linear, acute, 1 to 4 inches by 1 line, rigid, curved, folded, more 
rarely flat, smooth below, scabrid above. 
Panicle effuse, o to (i inches by o to a inches, very lax ; rhachis straight or 
fiexuous ; branches solitary, distant, spreading, the lower o to 4 inches long, 2- (rarely 
3 to 4) j)artite close to the base, very scantily and remotely branched ; branchlets 
divaricate, 1 to o spiculate at the tips, filiform, straight or fiexuous, scabrid ; lateral 
pedicels verv short. 
Spikelets o to 4 lines long, sometimes ))urplish. 
(iLi.MEs subequal, linear-lanceolate, abruptly and shortly mucronate or the upper 
emarginate. Val\e Hneai". not or obscurely beaked, as long as the glumes or slightly 
shorter, smooth or finely scaberulous above, purplish ; callus ^ line long ; awns 
continuous with the \ al\e. sube([ua]. di\aricate, 4 lines long ; pale | line long, shortlv 
:^-nerved, lodicules u]> to ^ line long, 8-nerved : antliers 1 to '2 lines long. 
Habitat: Natal. Biggarsl)erg. L'ehnidnii 7]02 : near Dundee. 4000-aOOO feet 
alt., IV. E. (rreeii (]\',hJ 735S). 
Fig 1, Spikelet : 2, glume; 3. valve; 4. pistil and s;tamens : 5, pale; (J, a lodicule. 
All enlarged 
