548 
CLVII. GRAMINEjE (Stapf). 
[Brackiaria. 
nerves 3-4 on each side with numerous very fine secondary ones 
between them, midrib slender, rather prominent downwards on the 
back. Panicle at length more or less exserted, broad-ovate in out- 
line, 3-6 in. by 2-5 in., of 4-6 solitary at length much spreading very 
lax racemes ; common axis slender, terete below, more or less 
flattened upwards with scabrid angles, glabrous, terminating with a 
spikelet ; racemes slender, the lower and intermediate 4-2 in. long, 
at length rather stiff, sessile, simple or the longest compound down- 
wards with scanty secondary racemes up to over 1 in. long ; rhachis 
very slightly wavy, triquetrous, or rounded downwards on the back, 
up to | lin. wide, scabrid along the angles, glabrous , pedicels paired 
or upwards solitary, filiform, angular, scaberulous, glabrous or rarely 
with a few fine long spreading hairs. Spikelets or pairs of spikelets 
or secondary racemes distant by 4-10 lin., or the lowest by almost 
1 in., hence very loosely scattered ; spikelets obo void-oblong, 
subobtuse or apiculate, turgid, distinctly narrowed at the base, 
f-2 lin. long, rather green and quite glabrous, very similar in structure 
to those of B. ramosa and B. regularis, but the lower glume slightly 
larger, usually very acute and frequently 3-nerved or sub-5-nerved 
(with the outer side-nerves very short), the valvule of the barren 
floret more developed with distinctly winged keels and the valve and 
valvule of the fertile floret coriaceous-crustaceous and strongly 
(often acutely) transversely rugose, at length turning dull brown. — 
Panicum nudiglume, var. major , Ren die, Cat. Afr. PI. Welw. ii. 170. 
P. serrcefolium , Rendle, l.c. ; not of Hochst. ex A. Rich. 
Lower Guinea. Angola : Loanda, Gossweiler, 191 ! Welwitsch, 7362c 
partly ! 7469 ! Benguella ; Country of the Ganguellas and Ambuellas, 
Gossweiler , 1652 ! 1667 ! Mossamedes ; common in undergrow th of open 
bush at km. 107 of the Mossamedes railway, Pearson, 2367 ! Among granite 
blocks between Gambos Fort and the Mission Station, Pearson, 2514 ! In 
rock fissures, Pearson, 2440 ! 
Recognisable by its relatively large very loosely scattered almost pear- 
shaped spikelets and by being glabrous (except for the frequent presence of 
spreading hairs on the sheaths). Pearson and Gossweiler collected this and 
the preceding species apparently within a short radius, and Pearson’s 2367 
might be considered as intermediate and possibly a cross between the two. 
The other specimens are markedly different. 
37. B 0 serrifolia^ Stapf. Annual, up to over 3 ft. high. Culms 
single or scantily fascicled, suberect from a geniculate or prostrate 
and then rooting base, somewhat stout, 5-many-noded, branched 
from near the base or all along, with the branches suberect or obliquely 
spreading, glabrous, usually loosely hairy in the upper parts of the 
internodes. Leaf-sheaths rather thin or the upper subherbaceous, 
often slipping off the internodes and rolling round the adjoining 
branch, strongly striate, more or less hirsute with tubercle-based 
hairs ; ligules a narrow ciliolate rim ; blades lanceolate-linear from 
a rounded or cordate or obtusely auricled base, long-tapering to a 
slender point, 3-8 in. by 5-10 lin., flat, thin, but hardly flaccid, 
