NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
145 
Stems caespitose or scattered on creeping rhizomes, erect, simple, 
slender, terete or occasionally slightly compressed, finely wrinkled, 
puncticukte, 4 — 7 dm. high, 1-5 — 2 mm. in diam. at the middle; leaf- 
sheaths 3 — 5, remaining during the flowering period, ultimately de- 
ciduous, loosely convolute or expanded, linear-oblong, acute, subulate- 
mucronate, coriaceous, nervose at the apex, red-brown, membranous 
and paler at the margins, mostly 3 — 4 cm. long, up to 5 cm. long; male 
inflorescence paniculate-cymose, ovate to oblong, densely many- 
flowered, 1-5 — 3 cm. long; spathes persistent, expanded, oblong-lanceo- 
late, slender-mucronate, chartaceous, red-brown, membranous and 
horn-colour at the margins, the lower mostly 2 — 3 cm. long; spathellae 
inconspicuous, lanceolate, aristate, membranous, mostly 4 — 5 mm. long 
with the awn; spikelets ovate or broadly wedge-shaped, compactly 
3 — 10-flowered, 3 — 5 mm. long; bracts broadly ovate, acute, with a 
scab rid awn, cartilaginous, membranous and lacerate at the margins, 
dorsally scabrid, 3-5 — 4 mm. long (including the awn); perianth oblong, 
compressed, 1-75-2 mm. long; outer segments ovate-lanceolate, mucro- 
nate, membranous, finely lacerate at the margins, dorsally scabridous, 
red-brown; inner segments oblong, acute, lacerate along the upper 
margins, membranous, scarcely twice as long as the outer; female 
inflorescence resembling the male; spathellae as in the male; spikelets 
ovate to oblong, about 4-flowered, 4 — 5 mm. long; bracts ovate, acute, 
aristate, cartilaginous, membranous and lacerate at the margins, 
dorsally scabrid, 3 — 5 mm. long (including the awn) ; perianth com- 
pressed-trigonous, oblong, 1-75 — 2 mm. long; outer segments oblong, 
acute, slightly keeled, with a scabrid mucro, cartilaginous, mem- 
branous and lacerate at the margins, dorsally scabrid; inner segments, 
spathulate-oblong, acute, membranous, lacerate at the upper margins, 
about equal with the outer; ovary ovate, sharply 3-angled, smooth, 
styles 3, arising from a stylopodium. 
Cape Province: South-Western Region; Worcester Div., Du Toit’s 
Kloof, Bolus, 16997, <j! Prince Albert Div., Zwartberg Pass, Bolus, 
11661, d ! Albany Div., stony hills near Graham’s Town, MacOwan, 
1360, d! 1359, ?! King William’s Town Div., summit of Perie Mt., 
Galpin, 5944, d ! Stutterheim Div., Dohne Hill, Sim, 2843, d.! 
Most nearly allied to E. asperiflora, Kunth, but easily distinguished 
by its lacerate bracts and perianth-segments, 
pectinata, Pillans, ab omnibus ceteris distinguitur caulibus densis, regu- 
lariter dispositis, modo dentum pectinae, rhizomatibus reptantibus. 
Stems closely arranged like the teeth of a comb along a cieeping 
rhizome, erect, often slightly curved, slender, simple, terete, solid, 
wrinkled and pitted, 10—20 cm. high, -75—1 mm. in diam. at the middle ; 
