335 
Hyjparrhenia.] clvii. gramine^e (Stapf). 
rarely more or less hirsute towards the ligule, scab rid to spinulose 
along the margin, somewhat rough on the upper, smooth on the 
lower side ; midrib relatively slender (except in very large leaves), 
prominent below, primary lateral nerves distant, 4-6 on each side, 
slender. Primary spatheate panicle decompound, leafy, linear- 
oblong, over 1 ft. long (apart from the additional mixed flowering 
branches below it), usually dense, somewhat flexuous and sub- 
secund ; primary internodes up to more than 8, the lowest 4-J-3 in. 
long, the following gradually decreasing ; tiers up to 5-noded, mostly 
mixed, the compound rays up to 7-noded and the longest much 
exceeding the adjacent internode, bearing apparently secondary 
tiers only ; ultimate (simple) rays very finely filiform, in. long, 
rarely (the lowest) longer; subtending leaves of the primary axis 
resembling the preceding leaves except for the upwards gradually 
wider sheaths and the shorter blades, the latter falling short of the 
panicle ; subtending leaves of the compound rays spatheoloid 
except sometimes the lowest. Spatheoles permanently boat-shaped, 
usually more or less horizontal on the arched rays, lanceolate to 
ovate-lanceolate in profile, acutely acuminate, f-1 in. long, rarely 
slightly longer, thinly scarious, glabrous, greenish or tawny to bright 
brick-red ; peduncles finely filiform, at length £ in. long, their 
tips bearded, hairs white, fine, stiff, up to 2 lin. long. Racemes 
subsessile, laterally and usually vertically exserted from the spathe- 
oles, at length more or less epinastically reflexed, 5-6 lin. long, dense, 
subcontiguous, 3-6-awned per pair ; bases very short, somewhat 
stout, more or less bearded like the peduncle, their tips shortly 
auricled ; joints filiform, obliquely truncate, f lin. long, shortly white- 
ciliate ; pedicels similar, more slender and up to 1 lin. long. Homo- 
gamous pair of spikelets 1 at the base of the lower raceme only. 
Fertile spikelets linear- to lanceolate-oblong, 2-2 J lin. long, pale ; 
callus very short, obtuse, shortly bearded. Glumes equal, thinly 
chartaceous, lower narrowly truncate, dorsally flattened, sparingly 
hairy at least downwards, faintly 9-11-nerved, margins narrowly 
involute up to two-thirds, then indexed from the fine rigidly ciliolate 
keels ; upper deltoid-truncate, 3-nerved, sparingly ciliolate upwards. 
Lower floret reduced to an oblong truncate obscurely 2-nerved 
ciliolate valve. Upper floret^ : valve stipitiform, shortly 2-toothed, 
glabrous ; awn slender, about 1 in. long, column brown, fulvously 
hirtellous ; valvule 0. Anthers almost 1 lin. long. Pedicelled 
spikelets or more often neuter, lanceolate, 2J-4 lin. long, or 
occasionally smaller, pale, glabrous or pubescent ; lower glume thin, 
acuminate, aristulate (bristle up to 2 lin. long), about 9-nerved, 
with rigidly ciliolate keels (cilia often very short), in neuter spikelets 
often involute on one side ; upper glume acute, 3-nerved ; valves 
hyaline, lower oblong, subacute or truncate, up to 2 or 3 lin. long, 
1 -nerved, ciliolate upwards or only at the tips, upper narrowly 
linear, slightly shorter, usually 2-dentate or 2-fid, or both valves 
