493 
Microcalamus .] clvii . gramine^e (Stapf). 
1—3 in. apart and 1—3 in. long, with up to 6 spikelets, or if more (long 
branches) then usually some of them arrested : axes filiform, angular, 
minutely puberulous or pubescent, or, at the nodes, almost villosu 
lous ; pedicels very unequal, the longest up to 2, or the terminal up 
to over 3 lin. long, scaberulous to puberulous, tips sometimes discoid. 
Spikelets 3 to almost 4 lin. long, very like those of M. barbmodis , 
if not occasionally more slender and much paler. Lower glume 
often 7-nerved. Fertile valve sometimes pubescent up to beyond 
the middle. 
Upper Guinea. Cameroons : in forests near Bipinde, Zenker , 1834 ! 2144 ! 
3193 1 
Lower Guinea. Gaboon : Sierra del Crystal, Mann, 1646 ! 
Whilst the specific identity of the specimens quoted above is fairly clear, that 
of the following might at the first glance be thought doubtful owing to the 
striking differences in the shape of the leaf-blades. A close examination, how- 
ever, especially also of the anatomical characters of the epidermis of the leaves, 
shows so much agreement that it is more probable that these variations are only 
of the fluctuation type, if not due to conditions of illumination or some such 
factor. They may be described thus : — 
Forma latas, Stapf. Leaf -blades conspicuously oblique, elliptic -oblong, 
3-5 in. by 1— If in., very finely pubescent below, soon becoming glabrous, rather 
firm, prominently nerved ; inflorescence about 3 in. long. 
Upper Guinea. Cameroons : in forests near Bipinde, Zenker, 4730 ! 
Forma anguslus, Stapf. Leaf-blades linear-lanceolate, 4—10 in. by 1 1 in., 
softly pubescent below, thin, finely nerved ; inflorescence 4-7 in. long, very 
slender. 
Upper Guinea. Cameroons ; in forests near Yaunde, Zenker, 1523 ! in forest 
near Efulen (south of Bipinde), Bates, 251 ! 
3. M. convallarioides, Staff in Hook. Ic. PL t. 3070. Culms in 
scanty fascicles, about 1 ft. high, ascending from a geniculate base 
and sometimes rooting from the lower nodes, sheathed at the base 
by about 3 cataphylls, the lowest very short, the others 3-7 in. long, 
striate, glabrous except at the pubescent nodes, rather thin and 
early breaking up. Perfect leaves 2 or 3 ; sheaths tight, terete, 
closely striate, pubescent to almost tomentose at the nodes, ciliate 
along the outer margin upwards, with a densely ciliate dorsal 
transverse rim at the junction with the blade, otherwise glabrous ; 
ligules a ciliolate rim ; blades lanceolate, acutely acuminate, long 
and more or less asymmetrically attenuated at the base, 6-8 in. by 
1J-1J in., papery, with some scattered glistening hairs springing 
from minute tubercles on the upper side, otherwise quite glabrous ; 
lateral nerves about 40 per inch, very slender. Inflorescence more 
or less exserted, 1§-2J in. long, very scanty ; primary branches more 
or less reduced to fascicles of 4-2 spikelets or the latter solitary 
upwards ; common axis very slender, angular, minutely puberulous ; 
pedicels filiform, the lateral f-1 lin., the terminal (of a branchlet) up 
to 3 lin. long, scaberulous. Spikelets broadly oblong, 3J-3| lin. long, 
pale. Glumes broadly ovate, shortly apiculate or subacute, the 
