748 
CL VII. GKAMINE2E (Stapf). 
[Sac dole fis. 
ultimately subcrustaceous, with firm narrowly involute margins, 
obscurely 5-nerved ; valvule almost as long as the valve, tightly 
embraced by it all along and of the same texture, 2-nerved, hardly 
keeled. Lodicules 2, small, broadly cuneate. Stamens 3. Styles 
distinct ; stigmas long, loosely plumose, exserted terminally or 
subterminally. Grain tightly enclosed by the somewhat hardened 
valve and valvule, elliptic in outline, dorsally compressed, with an 
almost flat back and convex face ; hilum punctiform ; embryo more 
or less half the length of the grain. — Annual or more often perennial 
grasses ; blades linear and flat or filiform-convolute, or filiform- 
subulate. False spikes often very dense and dark or variegated ; 
spikelets mostly rather small. 
Species over 30, in the tropics of both hemispheres. 
The section Rhampholepis corresponds to what was intended to form the genus 
Rampholepis as proposed on p. 15 of this volume. A closer survey of Sacciolepis 
as represented by the species with spiciform panicles has since led to the con- 
clusion that the structure of the spikelets of Rhampholepis conforms to such a 
degree with that of Sacciolepis proper (Sect. Eusacciolepis ) that a generic 
separation of Rhampholepis resting solely on the loosening of the panicle cannot 
be maintained. 
^Inflorescence spiciform. 
Branches fused with the axis of the false spike ; pedicels 
crowded all along it singly or in pairs or rarely in 
small fascicles ; spikelets laterally compressed, 
2 lin. long ; lower glume with a narrow hardened 
back and hyaline margins ; valve of lower floret 
with a transverse fringe of hairs (see also 15, 
S. transbarbata). Annual grasses : Sect. Ramifus^e. 
False spike much attenuated downwards, bearing 
there imperfect tightly appressed spikelets, 
1 in. by 4 lin. (upwards) ; perfect spikelets broad, 
ovate-elliptic ; upper glume 7-nerved with a line 
of tubercle-based hairs along each side of the keel 
and the margins ... ... ... ... ... 1. S. ciliocincta. 
False spikes not or very slightly attenuated down- 
wards ; spike ^-1 in. by 3-4 lin., all the spikelets 
perfect, lanceolate ; upper glume 9 -nerved, 
uniformly shortly pubescent all over ... ... 2. S. cingularis. 
Branches not or imperfectly fused with the axis of the 
false spike. Annual or perennial grasses : Sect. 
Eusacciolepis. 
Spikelets §— | lin. long ; glumes rigid, ribbed ; upper 
glume and lower valve 7-nerved. 
Culms up to 2J ft. high ; spikes 2J-5 in. by 1-1 £ 
lin. ... ... ... ... ... ... 3. S. micrococca. 
Culms 3-6 in. high ; spikes 1 in. by 1 lin. or less, 
rather loose ... ... ... ... ... 4. S. nana. 
Spikelets over \ lin. long. 
Spikelets f-l lin. long. 
Perennial with dense tufts of leaves from which 
the slender few-noded culms rise ; leaf-blades 
fleshy or spongy, elliptic in cross-section with 
a narrow frontal channel and 2 wide grooves 
on each side, very smooth. 
