MONOCOTYLEDONS (continued 2)

Nubian Desert (Wadi El Derood); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Darfur Prov.

C. cruentus Rottb. TOROG—Hadendowa; ASHAM—Rashida.

Spikelets narrower and glumes closer on rhachilla, but otherwise as above.

Nubia (between Suakin & Berber: Obak); Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov. (Atbara, near Bulak); Kassala Prov. (Gash Delta: Um Adam); Red Sea Prov. (Er-Rih Island, Red Sea); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad).

C. amabilis Vahl.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-8 in. long. Leaves up to ½ length of stem. Umbel simple or compound (rarely 1 head), rays up to 14 and 4 in. long; bracts up to 4, shorter than umbel. Spikelets 3-10 together, ⅔ in long, golden-brown, 16-36 fld.; glumes minutely mucronate, keel of 3-5 green nerves; style as long as nut; nut 2/5 length of glume, obovoid, brown.

White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Bongo-land); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

C. uncinatus Poir.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-10 in. long. Leaves length of stem, bristly. Umbels usually simple; bracts 3-6, bristly, longer than umbel; spikelets digitate, usually 3-10 together, ½ in. long, 8-28 fld., compressed, pale-rusty to brown; glumes 3-nerved, the green keel produced into a prominent bristle; nut half as long as glume (excl. mucro), oblong-obovoid.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

C. reduncus Hochst.

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 2-10 in. long. Leaves length of stem. Umbel usually compound, 3-4 in. diam.; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes digitate, of 3-20 spikelets, which are flattened and 30 fld.; glumes with short recurved mucro; style short, as are the branches; nut ab. ¾ in. length of glume, narrow, brown.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

C. difformis Linn.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 4-20 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stem. Spikes in simple or compound umbel or contracted into 1 head; bracts 2-4, lowest 2-10 in. long. Spikelets many in dense heads, dusky or brown, 10-30 fld.; glumes close packed, obtuse; sta. 1 (rarely 2); style much shorter than nut, branches short: nut nearly as long as glume, 3-angled, straw-coloured to brown.

Kordofan Prov. (Rahad); Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,300 ft.); Bahr El Jebel (Madi); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas; Niamniam-land: Linduku River).

C. microlepis Boeck.

Spikelets whitish; glumes more elongate and less obtuse, and nut more elongate and narrower than in above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Gir; Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. dichroostachyus Hochst.

Glabrous herb; rhizome 4-8 in. long; stems distant, 18-36 in. long, sharply 3-angled at top. Leaves ½-¾ length of stem, up to ½ in. broad. Umbel lateral, compound, 2-5 in. diam.; bracts 3-4, up to 8 in. long, lowest in continuation of stem. Spikes of 3-5 spikelets, digitate, numerous; spikelets white, brown spotted, 6-14 fld.; glumes 1-nerved, obtuse; sta. 2; style very short; nut ¾ length of glume, yellow-brown.

North Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

C. Haspan Linn.

Glabrous herb; rhizome creeping; stems distant or close together, 4-28 in. long, 3-angled or winged at top. Leaves almost absent to longer than stem. Umbel usually compound once or more, rarely simple; bracts 2-3, lowest suberect, shorter to longer than the umbel. Spikelets digitate, 2-6 together, up to ½ in. long, compressed, 10-40 fld.; glumes 1-3 nerved, greenish or purplish; sta. 2-3; style short; nut ab. ½ length of glume, pale-brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. Yei River).

C. flavidus Retz.

Short-lived annual; stems tufted, 2-8 in. long, obtusely 3-angled. Leaves longer than stem. Umbel very compound, yellow to blackish; bracts longer than umbel; sta. 1; nut white; otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. podocarpus Boeck.

Glabrous herb; rhizome scaly; stems tufted, obtusely 3-angled, 10 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel simple; rays 2-4, ab. ½ in. long; bracts 3, lowest suberect, 4-8 in. long. Spikes of 3-7 spikelets, ebracteate; spikelets 2/5 in. long, 8-12 fld., purple mottled; glumes obtuse; sta. 3; style shorter than nut, which is ½ length of glume, broad ellipsoid, 3-angled, suddenly narrowed into a minute stalk, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. sphærospermus Schrad.

Glabrous herb; rhizome woody, 2 in. long; stems 6-14 in. long, more or less sharply 3-angled at top. Leaves from ½ the length to (rarely) more than length of stems. Umbel simple or compound, 1-5 in. diam.; bracts varying from 1 in. to length in infl. Spikes of 3-8 digitate spikelets, straw-coloured or rich brown; spikelets ½ in. long, compressed, 10-30 fld.; sta. 3; style short, branches longer than the minute nut.

Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

C. flabelliformis Rottb.

Rhizome stout; stems 2-3 ft. long, tufted, rounded or angular at top. Leaves 0, except on early sterile shoots. Umbel usually compound, 4-12 in. diam.; primary rays 6 to numerous, subequal; bracts 8-12 subequal, longer than umbel; spikes whitish-yellow to rusty, of 2-15 digitate spikelets which are compressed and 10-20 fld.; glumes hard, shining, pointed; sta. 3; style short, branches long; nut ½ length of glume.

Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

C. dichromenæformis Kunth. var. major Boeck.

Rhizome woody; stems 12-30 in. long, almost flattened at top. Leaves nearly as long, up to ½ in. broad. Head of 12-34 spikelets; bracts 4-5, lowest up to 10 in. long; spikelets ½ in. long, flattened, straw-coloured, 12-20 fld.; glumes distant; sta. 3; styles shorter than nut, branches long; nut ⅔ length of glume, 3-angled, brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Kulenjo).

C. Renschii Boeck.

Tall glabrous herb; stems up to 6 ft. high, 3-angled to 3-winged at top. Leaves up to 4 ft. by 1 in., 3-nerved. Umbel 8-24 in. diam., decompound; bracts 2 ft. long. Spikes abundant, green to red-brown, small, of 2-7 clustered spikelets which are 1/12 in. long, oblong, 3-6 fld.; glumes distichous, mucronate; sta. 2-3; style half the length and branches length of the nut which is ab. ½ length of glume.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).

C. Iria Linn.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 4-20 in. long. Leaves ab. as long as stem. Umbel usually compound, 2-20 in. diam.; rays often long; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes of 5-20 spikelets loosely spicate on a ⅓-2 in. long rhachis; spikelets slender, ab. ½ in. long, yellow or brown, 6-20 fld.; nut nearly length of glume, black; style short, branches shortly exserted.

Nubia; Kordofan Prov. (Obeid); Darfur Prov. (J. Barkin); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

C. aristatus Rottb.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 1-7 in. long. Leaves up to length of stem. Umbel appearing simple (or 1 spike); rays 1-6, up to 3 in. long, lowest bract usually longer than umbel. Spikes ½ in. long, cylindric, of 5-40 spikelets, brown when ripe; spikelets up to ½ in. long, compressed, 6-30 fld.; glumes striate, ending in a conspicuous recurved bristle; sta. 1; nut ⅓ length of glume, brown; style shorter than nut, branches shortly exserted.

Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); Upper White Nile Prov. (Taufikia); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

C. distans Linn. f.

Glabrous herb; rhizome stout; stems 1-3 ft. long. Leaves up to length of stem. Umbel compound, 8-12 in. diam., sometimes congested or scanty; bracts usually longer than umbel. Rhachis of spike ⅓-2 in. long; spikelets spicate, almost acicular, 10-12 fld., reddish; glumes distant; style shorter than nut, branches shortly exserted; nut ab. ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River, Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

C. eleusinoides Kunth.

Stems 1-3 ft. long, throwing out lateral shoots at base. Spikes 1 in. long dense cylindric; spikelets obliquely spreading, green or grey-brown, ½ in. long, ab. 10 fld.; glumes mucronate, approximate; otherwise as above.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

C. latifolius Poir.

Glabrous herb; stolons (runners) long; stem 2-3 ft. long, acutely 3-angled at top. Leaves ¾ length of stem, ¾ in. broad. Umbel compound, dense, secondary umbels corymbose; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes of 4-8 spikelets: spikelets ½ in. long, pallid or reddish, 8-16 fld.; glumes obtuse, imbricated; nut ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Jebel (Hillet El Nuer).

C. pilosus Vahl.

Glabrous, except spike-rhachis which is minutely hairy; stem 12-30 in. long, acutely 3-angled at top. Leaves ¾ length of stem. Umbel usually compound; bracts several, lowest longer than umbel. Spikelets ½ in. long at right angles to the rhachis, pale reddish, 10-24 fld.; glumes obtuse, rather loose; nut 3/5 length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. bulbosus Vahl.

Glabrous bulbed herb; stolons slender, ending in small bulb; stem 4-12 in. long, very slender. Leaves longer than stem, tapering. Umbel contracted, subcorymbose; bracts 3-6 overtopping umbel. Spikelets 4-6 to the spike, compressed, red; rhachilla winged; flowering glumes 8-26, obtuse, striate; nut ½ length of glume, black; style short, branches long.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Wadi El Omari & Khor Tamanib).

The roots are used as flour in times of scarcity and eaten roasted or boiled.

C. microbolbos C. B. Clarke.

Bulbed glabrous herb; stems 3 in. high, slender; stolons capillary, ending in minute bulbs. Leaves 6 in. long. Spikes 1 or 2 together, ped. ¼ in. long; bracts 2, longer than spike. Spikelets 3-5 per spike, ½ in. long, compressed red-brown, 24 fld.; glumes green-mucronate; sta. 3; style length of nut, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, brown.

Red Sea Prov. (coast-land to between 3,000-4,000 ft., Suakin).

C. esculentus Linn. SAAD—Arab.

Bulbed herb; stolons slender, ending in bulbs ½ in. diam., ringed by transverse lines; stems 6-24 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves up to ¾ length of stem. Umbel more or less compound, 3-12 in. diam.; bracts 3-5, ab. as long as umbel. Spikes of 4-30 spikelets which are ¼-¾ in. long, pale yellow to brown, 6-30 fld., rhachilla winged; glumes blunt, striate; style shorter than nut, branches long; nut ab. ½ length of glume.

Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,600 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

C. articulatus Linn.

Glabrous herb, stolons hardening into long rhizomes; stems 3-6 ft. high, when dry showing joints ½-1½ in. apart. Leaves reduced to sheaths. Umbel usually compound, 1-8 in. diam.; bracts elliptic-lanceolate. Spikelets 3-4 to spike, or more by congestion of spikes into one, ⅓-1 in. long, 12-50 fld., straw-coloured to brown; glumes obtuse; style branches long; nut 3/5 length of glume, black.

White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Jebel.

C. schimperianus Steud. DIS & SID—Arab.

Glabrous herb; rhizome woody; stems 1-3 ft. long. Leaves under ⅓ length of stem. Umbel usually compound, 3-10 in. diam.; bracts 4-7. Spikes of 3-20 loosely arranged, often drooping, 12-24 fld. spikelets, which are ½-¾ in. long, compressed, red-brown; rhachilla winged, wings deciduous; glumes distant, obtuse; style branches long; nut ½ length of glume.

Nubia; Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov. (Atbara: Shallalat); Khartoum Prov. (Nile near J. Royan); Fung Prov.

C. nubicus C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stolons hardening into rhizomes; stems up to 2 ft. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves 12 in. by ¼ in. Umbel compound, 5-8 in. diam. Spikelets numerous, rusty-red, up to 1 in. long, 20-30 fld., compressed; rhachilla wings ovate, deciduous; glumes acute, distant; style short, branches long; nut 2/5 length of glume, black. Bracts 3-4, longer than umbel.

Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.).

C. schweinfurthianus Boeck.

Tall scabrous herb; stems 1-3 fl. long, 3-angled. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stem. Umbel irregular, simple or compound primary rays up to 12 in. long; bracts few to many, according to number of rays equalling or overtopping the umbel. Spikes loose; spikelets 3-9 per spike, 1 in. long, 20 fld., straw-coloured, compressed; wings of rhachilla oblong, deciduous; glumes distant, apiculate; style short, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

C. elatior Boeck.

Stem 30 in. high, stout, smooth. Umbel compound; rays up to 10 in. high; spikelets 1 in. long, 20-30 fld., suberect, otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. gracilinux C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stems 2 ft. high, 3-angled at top; stolons numerous. Leaves up to 16 in. long. Umbel compound, 6-12 in. diam.; bracts overtopping umbel. Spikes loose with 5-11 spikelets, which are ⅔ in. long, compressed, 10-16 fld., whitish; wings of rhachilla elliptic-lanceolate; glumes subobtuse, close; nut 3/5 length of glume.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

C. maculatus Boeck. SEID—Arab.

Glabrous herb; stems 12-20 in. long, 3-angled at top, bulbous at base. Leaves nearly length of stem. Umbel compound, of 5-11 spikelets, which are ½ in. long, compressed, 20 fld., straw-coloured, usually purple-spotted; rhachilla wings narrow; glumes obtuse, close; styles shorter than nut, branches exserted.

Nubia; Berber Prov. (Mograt Island near Abu Hamad); Khartoum Prov.; White Nile Prov. (Khor Attar).

C. rotundus Linn.

Glabrous herb; stems 8-24 in. long, bulbous at base, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel simple or compound, 1-8 in. diam.; rays long or short; bracts 3-4, overtopping umbel. Spikes loose; spikelets red-brown, ⅔ in. long and 8-30 fld., or 2 in. long and 50-60 fld.; rhachilla wings joining the pointed, closely placed glumes; style shorter than nut, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, dark brown.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, Wadi El Omari, Wadi El Arab); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Berber Prov. (Ben Naga, between Berber & Khartoum); Khartoum Prov. (North); Banks of the Blue Nile (Bunzaga); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid, Abu Haraza); White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

Used in certain dye preparations to impart perfume to the fabric. The rhizomes yield an essential oil which is used as a perfume. The fresh roots are diaphoretic and astringent; they are used for indigestion in children and in fevers.

var. spadiceus Boeck.

Stem usually tall, scabrous at top. Spikelets strongly compressed, sometimes darker brown, shining.

Kordofan Prov.

C. nuerensis Boeck.

Glabrous herb; stolons hardening into rhizome, 8 in. long; stems 8-20 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, ⅓ in. broad. Umbel compound, 6-8 in. diam. (sometimes reduced to a head); primary rays 3-7; bracts 3-5, 2-6 in. broad; bracts 3-5 overtopping umbel. Spikes loose overtopping umbel. Spikes of 3-5 red-brown to nearly black spikelets, which are 2/5 in. long by 1/12 in., 8-16 fld.; wings of rhachilla ovate-lanceolate; glumes obtuse, reddish-black on sides and 5-nerved, yellow-green on back; otherwise as above sp.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Nuer villages).

C. Fenzelianus Steud.

Tall herb; stolons long, thick. Umbel open. Spikelets pale to dusky straw-coloured; otherwise as C. rotundus.

Nubia; Berber Prov. (Zeidab); Between Berber & Khartoum: Khartoum Prov.; Fung Prov.; Kordofan Prov. (J. Kuhn).

C. radiatus Vahl.

Glabrous herb; rhizome 0; lateral shoots at base of stem; stem 6-24 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel up to 6-10 in. diam., but often contracted, sometimes into 1 dense head; bracts overtopping infl. Spikes digitate, 1 in. by ab. ½ in., almost sessile; spikelets 1/5-2/5 in. long, narrow, 10-36 fld., compressed, pale to brownish; wings of rhachilla oblong, persistent; glumes apiculate tightly imbricate; sta. 3; nut ½ length of glume; style ½ length of nut, branches short.

Nubia; Dongola; Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas & Wau River; Bongo: Addai).

C. exaltatus Retz.

Stems up to 3-4 ft. high. Some spikes peduncled; spikelets larger, less crowded and more yellowish or reddish, but otherwise as above.

Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Harun; Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov. (Sagattur); Upper White Nile Prov. (Tonga Island); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba).

var. dives C. B. Clarke.

Umbel rigid. Spikes rigid, dense; ripe spikelets divaricate or reflexed, hard, often shining and yellowish.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River).

C. Pethericki C. B. Clarke.

Very tall, stout herb. Umbel large, compound with large cylindric spikes; lowest bract very long, ⅔ in. broad. Spikelets nearly ½ in. long, 36 fld., pale yellowish-brown; glumes thin; otherwise as C. exaltatus.

Mongalla Prov. (Gigging, Mongalla & 7° 25′ N.L.).

C. digitatus Roxb.

Glabrous herb; stem 2-6 ft. high, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel compound, 8-24 in. diam.; lowest bract longer than umbel. Spike 2 by 1 in.; spikelets many, at right angles to spike, ab. ½ in. long, narrow, 20 fld., yellowish-brown; wings of rhachilla caducous, lanceolate, yellow; glumes scarcely mucronate, yellow and brown; sta. 3.; nut ½ length of glume, black; style shorter than nut. Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).

C. auricomus Sieber.

Stem at top almost 3-winged; umbel not very large; otherwise as above.

Blue Nile Prov. (Khor Agalin at Doleib); Kordofan Prov. (Birket Kolli); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ghaba Shambé; Bongo: Addai); Mongalla Prov. (Kenissa).

var. minor C. B. Clarke.

Slender; umbels small; spikelets slender, red-brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

C. Papyrus Linn. var. Antiquorum C. B. Clarke. BURDI, DIS & BABIRUSA—Arab; BODUMOH—Zande; YELL—Nuer. The Papyrus Plant.

Plant up to 15 ft. high; rhizome woody; stems smooth with basal sheaths only. Leaves up to 1 in. by ⅓ in. on barren shoots. Umbels compound, up to 3 ft. diam.; primary rays up 30, up to 1 ft. long; bracts up to 7 in. long, reddish. Spikelets numerous sessile, ovate, ¼-⅓ in. long, compressed; bracts of secondary umbel 3, green, up to 2½ in. long. Spikes ab. 1 in. by ½ in. with 12-30 spreading spikelets; spikelets ⅓ long, brown; glumes ovate-oblong with a green median line; rhachilla wings yellow deciduous late; sta. 3; style length of nut; branches rather short; nut ½-3/5 length of glume, black.

White Nile and affluents; Bahr El Ghazal and affluents.

The slices of the stem, pressed together, were used by the ancient Egyptians as a writing material. Attempts have been made of recent years to utilise the plant for paper making and for fuel.

C. cephalotes Vahl.

Stolons slender; stem 6-10 in. long, 3-angled. Leaves longer or shorter than stem. Head globose, ½ diam.; bracts 3-4; spikelets numerous, sessile, ovate, ¼-⅓ in. long, compressed, 20-30 fld.; rhachilla not winged; glumes cuspidate, imbricate, red-brown; sta. 2-3; nut oblong, narrowed into a long beak, style jointed on beak of nut, slender, entire or 2-3 toothed.

Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

828Mariscus[6] coloratus Nees. var. macrocephala C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stolons 0; stems 6-14 in. long, 3-angled at top, thickened at base by brownish leaf sheaths. Leaves up to length of stem, weak. Spikes 5-6, large, in one head; bracts 3-4, spreading, lowest 3-7 in. long; spikelets ovate or lanc., acute, 2-6 fld., straw-coloured; glumes subacute, 13-15 ribbed, margins running into the elliptic wings of rhachilla; style shorter than nut, branches longish; nut ½ length of glume, black; sta. 2-3.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Makporru Hill); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

M. djurensis C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stolons numerous, 1-2 in. long, red-scaly; stems approximate, 4-12 in. long, slender, 3-angled at top. Leaves up to length of stem, weak. Head 1, ovoid, ⅓ in. diam., whitish; bracts 4, up to 6 in. long. Spikelets 1/5 in. long, 2-6 fld.; glumes distant, ovate, 11-13 ribbed, with small red glands; nut ½-2/5 length of glume, black; style ab. same length.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas; Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

M. macropus C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stems 10-20 in. long, 3-angled at top, much thickened at base by fibrous remnants of sheaths, tufted. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stems, long-bristly at tips. Head 1, ovoid, ½ in. diam., dirty-white; bracts 3, lowest 1-2 in. long. Spikelets 1/5 in. long, 8-10 fld., producing 6-8 nuts; glumes obscurely 7-11 ribbed; nut ½-⅔ length of glume; style same length.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba & Jur Ghattas).

M. leptophyllus C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stems approximate, thickened at base by withering leaf-sheaths, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, weak. Infl. umbellate; rays 2-3, ¼-1½ in. long, each with 1-3 spikes; bracts 4, up to 6 in. long. Spikelets ⅓ in. long, white to brown, ripening 6-8 nuts; glumes obtuse, 7-ribbed, distant; nut ½-⅔ length of glume, brown; style shorter, branches exserted.

Red Sea Prov. (Khor Tamanib).

M. mollipes C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous herb; stems thickened at base by fibrous torn leaf-sheaths, 3-angled at top, 4-6 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Head of 1 spike, ovoid, pale straw-coloured; bracts 3-4, lowest up to 3 in. long. Spikelets ⅛ in. long, ripening 1 nut only; glumes ovate, acuminate, obscurely 5-7 ribbed; nut line.-obl., ½ length of glume, black; style shorter; branches long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Mayob).

M. Sieberianus Nees.

Glabrous herb; stems 12-30 in. long, 3-angled at top, thickened at base by green to red leaf-sheaths, approximate. Leaves up to ⅔ length of stem. Umbel simple, 1-5 in. diam.; rays 5-12 up to 4 in. long; bracts 5-10, lowest up to 8 in. long. Spikes solitary, ab. 1 in. by ¼ in., cylindric; bracts to spike 0; spikelets numerous, spreading or deflexed below, lin.-lanc., bearing 1 or 2 nuts; lowest flower-glume twice as long as upper empty glume, ovate-ob., obtuse, 7-11 ribbed; style ½ length of nut; branches length of nut; nut ⅔ length of glume.

Mongalla Prov. (Lado District & Bor).

M. umbellatus Vahl.

Some of rays of umbel many times longer than spikes, which are ½ by ⅙ in.; spikelets small, denser and more rigid than in above sp. and in fruit all strongly deflexed; nut almost ellipsoid; otherwise as above.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

The rhizomes are edible.

M. sublimis C. B. Clarke.

Umbel simple; rays 7-10, up to 2½ in. long. Spikes up to ¾ by ¼ in., dense, pale grey; ripe spikelets appressed, obliquely erect. Nut 1 only per spikelet, ellipsoid; otherwise as M. Sieberianus.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

M. macrocarpus Kunth.

Spikes ovoid, ab. ½ in. wide, subsessile or shortly peduncled. Ripe spikelets with 2-3 nuts; lowest empty glume mucronate. Nut ¾ length of glume, broadly oblong; otherwise as large forms of M. Sieberianus.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

(ii) Empty glumes at base of spikelet 0-2; fertile glumes usually numerous, spirally arranged with few exceptions (nearly distichous in some spp. of Fimbristylis); hypogynous scales or bristles 0-7; infl. umbellate or capitate; fl. hermaphrodite; stem naked (except Fuirena).

829Eleocharis fistulosa Schultes.

Glabrous herb; stolons long; stems 1-3 ft. long, sharply 3-angled at top, leafless. Infl. of 1 terminal spikelet, 1-1¼ by 1/6-1/5 in., straw-coloured to brown; fertile glumes numerous, obovate, obtuse; sta. 1-3; hypogynous bristles 6, as long as nut, retrorse, rusty-red; style 2-3-fid, base enlarged, distinct from nut which is ½ length of glume, straw-coloured, marked like a grill (cancellate).

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

E. atropurpurea Kunth.

Leafless glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-6 in. long, slender. Spikelet 1, ovoid, ⅛-¼ in. long, many-fld., greenish-red; glumes obtuse, caducous; hypog. bristles 7, white, ½-¾ length of nut, retrorse, sometimes short or reduced to a minute cup; style branches 2, ½-⅔ length of glume, black.

White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol).

E. chætaria Roem. & Schultes.

Glabrous leafless herb; stems tufted 1-6 in. long. Spikelets 1-2, ⅛-⅙ in. long, ovoid, pallid or reddish, maturing 1-5 nuts; hypog. bristles 6, retrorse, length of nut, sometimes fewer; sta. 2-3; styles 3-fid; nut obovoid white, cancellate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

E. complanata C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous leafless annual; stems tufted, 6-9 in. long, flattened. Spikelet ab. ⅙ in. long, cylindric, green marked with red, densely fld.; glumes obtuse; hypog. bristles 0; style 3-fid; nut ½ length of glume, white; style base bulbous, small.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Gir).

E. microcarpa Torrey.

Glabrous leafless annual; stems tufted, 4-8 in. long.—Spikelet ⅙-¼ in. long, 10-20 fld., pale brown-green; glumes obtuse; hypog. bristles 3-5, ⅓-⅔ length of nut, retrorse, white; style 3-fid; nut hardly ½ length of glume, brownish.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

830Fimbristylis squarrosa Vahl.

Annual; stems tufted, 2-7 in. long. Leaves ½-¾ length of stem. Umbel usually compound, sometimes reduced to 2 spikelets to a stem; bracts 3-4 ab. as long as umbel; spikelets solitary up to ¼ by 1/12 in.; fl. dense, straw-coloured; glumes 3-5 nerved ending in recurved bristle; sta. usually 2, style 2-fid, hairy below bifurcation and round base of style; hypog. bristles 0 in this genus; nut ½ length of glume, biconvex.

White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Majob & Wau).

F. dichotoma Vahl.

Pubescent or puberulous annual; stems tufted, 2-10 in. long. Leaves length of stem. Umbel compound; bracts 3-4 as long as umbel. Spikelets many, solitary, ¼ in. long, obscurely polygonal; fertile glumes in many spirals, rust-coloured, ovate acute, greenish or yellowish keeled; style 2-fid, flattened, pubescent on margins; nut ⅓ length of glume, biconvex, 5-9 ribbed, white.

Nubia; Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov. (Shendi); Khartoum Prov. (Tuti Island); Fung Prov. (Abdin); White Nile Prov. (Geteina).

F. diphylla Vahl.

Annual, glabrous to pubescent; stems tufted, 4-28 in. long. Leaves ⅓-⅔ length of stem. Umbel compound of usually many spikelets; bracts 3-4, shorter than umbel. Spikelets solitary, ¼-½ in. long, terete, straw-coloured, rusty brown, or variegated; fertile glumes hardly keeled, often ciliate; style 2-fid, dilated at base, flattened, villous on margins; nut ⅓ length of glume, biconvex, whitish.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli, Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas & Jur Aweit; Bongo-land: Addai); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

F. ferruginea Vahl.

Herb, frequently biennial; stems tufted, 8-28 in. long. Leaves from ⅓ length of stem to almost absent, hairy or glabrous. Umbel simple or slightly compound, of usually 5-10 spikelets; bracts shorter than umbel. Spikelets solitary, 2/5 in. long, ovoid oblong, dense, rust-coloured, more or less variegated with red-brown or green; glumes ovate, upper part of back grey-puberulous. Style 2-fid, longer than nut, flattened; nut ½ length of glume, biconvex, pale yellow to brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

F. exilis Roem. & Schultes.

Hairy annual; stems tufted, 4-16 in. long. Leaves ⅓-½ length of stem. Umbel of 3-14 pedicelled spikelets; bracts 3-4, as long as umbel. Spikelets ¼-⅓ in. long, 10-12 fld., pale rusty and chestnut; glumes ovate, acute, pubescent, keeled and mucronate; sta. 2-3; style slightly shorter than nut, 3-fid, base dilated with a constriction; nut ab. ½ length of glume, 3-angled, transversely wrinkled, white to pale brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Shambé, Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

F. cioniana P. Savi.

Umbel of 10-25 spikelets, rather dense. Spikelets 1/8-1/5 in. long, pale-rusty; points of glumes rather long; nut small, yellowish, with transverse lines; otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

F. Schweinfurthiana Boeck.

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 8-12 in. long: basal sheaths brown, fringed. Leaf of uppermost sheath ½ length of stem. Umbel of 2-9 spikelets, subcompound; bracts 2-3, ½ in. long. Spikelets 1/5 by ⅛ in., dull brown; glumes obtuse; style shorter than nut, deciduous with pyramidal base, branches 3, long; nut less than ½ length of glume, smooth, brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

F. subaphylla Boeck.

Glabrous herb; rhizome short; stems approximate, 12-16 in. long, 4-angled at top. Leaves ½-2 in. long. Umbel 2-4 in. diam., of 30-60 spikelets; bracts 2-3, under 1 in.; spikelets ⅓ by 1/12 in., 5-14 fld., light brown; style longer than nut, deciduous with style base, 3-fid; nut ab. ⅓ length of glume, obovoid, smooth or warted, white or yellowish.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (main river).

F. monostachya Vahl.

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 2-16 in. long. Leaves ½ length of stem. Spikelet usually 1 (1-3) on each stem, ½ by 1/5 in. and few-flowered or larger and many-fld., greenish-white or yellowish; glumes ovate, keeled, mucronate, lower distichous, upper spiral; style longer than nut, hairy deciduous with base, 3-fid; nut less than ½ length of glume, pyriform, straw-coloured or pale brown, tubercled.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nganye).

F. falcifolia Boeck.

Pale green, glabrous herb; stems tufted, 4-6 in. long, 5-angled compressed. Leaves few, 2-3 in. long, falcate, margins serrulate, sheaths short. Umbel subcompound, 5-7 rayed; bracts 3-4, ab. ½ length of umbel; rays capillary, up to 1 in. long, with 2-3 branches. Spikelets obl.-lanc., 10-13 fld., ¼ in. long; glumes rigid, appressed, broad ovate, shortly mucronate; nut under ½ length of glume, pale straw-coloured.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

831Bulbostylis sphærocarpus C. B. Clarke.

Tufted annual; stem 2-5 in. long, glabrous, with 1 spikelet. Leaves ¾ length of stem, capillary minutely hairy, sheaths somewhat bearded in mouth. Bract ½ in. long, setaceous; spikelet ¼ by 1/14 in., bearing a few nuts at base, male above; fertile glumes ovate, acuminate, rust-coloured, scabrous-hairy; hypog. bristles, none in this genus; sta. 2-3; style 3-fid, nearly as long as nut, base persistent on nut, black; nut less than ½ length of glume, obovoid, transverse-wavy, straw-coloured.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

B. filamentosa Kunth.

Tufted herb; stems 8-20 in. long, 3-angled and hairy at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, setaceous; sheaths hairy, with long white hairs in the throat. Head 1, 1/3-2/5 in. diam., of 6-14 bright brown spikelets; bracts 2-3, lowest overtopping the head. Spikelets 1/6 by 1/12 in., to 6-10 fld.; glumes ovate, pubescent; sta. 3; style 3-fid, base persistent, ovoid, slightly darker than nut; nut 2/5 length of glume, acutely 3-angled, pallid, with obscure transverse lines.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

B. pusilla C. B. Clarke.

Tufted annual; stems 1-5 in. long with 1-9 spikelets, glabrous. Leaves ½ length of stems, setaceous. Spikelets in simple or compound lax umbel, all solitary or some clustered 2-3 together; bracts short, setaceous; spikelets ab. ⅛ by ½ in., but sometimes up ¼ in. broad, ab. 12 fld.; glumes ovate; sta. 2; style 3-fid, length of nut, base persistent; nut ⅔ length of glume, broadly obovoid, black with 2 transverse wavy lines.

Kordofan Prov. (El Abiad).

B. abortiva C. B. Clarke.

Densely tufted herb; stems 6-24 in. long, very slender, glabrous. Leaves ½ length of stem, filiform; sheath with few white hairs at throat. Umbel up to 4-6 in. diam., compound; bracts much shorter than umbel, setaceous. Spikelets numerous, pedicelled; otherwise as above.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

B. coleotricha C. B. Clarke.

Stems densely tufted, 4-16 in. long, very slender, minutely hairy at top. Leaves ½ length of stem, setaceous; sheaths with long white hairs in throat. Umbel usually simple or compound, 2 in. diam., of numerous solitary spikelets (rarely 1-3 spikelets only); bracts setaceous, often overtopping umbel. Spikelets ovoid, ¼ in. long, brown; glumes ovate, obtuse, keel green; style 3-fid, as long as nut, base persistent as a small, dark button; nut ½ length of glume, pale brown, smooth, appearing dotted.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

832Scirpus cubensis Poeppig & Kunth.

Glabrous, except glumes; stolons present or stem decumbent and rooting; stem 1-2 ft. long, stout 3-angled at top, nodeless. Leaves ab. as long as stem, 1/5 in. broad. Umbel simple; heads 1-12, stellate-globose, ½ in. diam., on ped. ½-2½ in. long; bracts up to 5-10, up to 1 ft. long. Spikelets numerous in head, ⅙-⅓ in. long, many fld.; glumes ovate, acute, rigid, margins ciliate; hypog. bristles 0; sta. 1-3; style linear, confluent into ovary, 2-fid; nut ⅔ length of glume, narrowly obovoid, corky at base, smooth, beaked.

Khartoum Prov.; White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Main river).

S. supinus Linn.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted; nodeless, 2-12 in. long, terete. Leaves usually under 1 in. long. Head 1; lowest bract continuing the stem; 1-6 in. long. Spikelets 1-7 in the head, 1/5-½ in. long, ellipsoid, dusky green; glumes ovate, acute, entire at tip; hypog. bristles 0; style linear, usually 3-fid; nut obovoid, black with transverse wavy lines.

Darfur Prov.

S. articulatus Linn.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-12 in. long, when dry showing transverse false septa. Leaves 0. Head 1, globose, apparently lateral owing to lowest bract (terete as the stem) continuing the latter, and up to 2 ft. long. Spikelets ¼-¾ in. long, cylindric, green or mottled-purple and brown; glumes ovate, incurved, tip entire; hypog. bristles 0; style linear, 3-fid; nut ab. ½ length of glume, brown, smooth or transversely wavy.

Blue Nile Prov. (Ganeib Assad); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); White Nile Prov. (Kosti); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas & Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba; Bongo: Gir & Atuoli).

S. corymbosus Roth.

Glabrous herb; rhizome 2-4 in. long; stems 3 ft. long, stout, terete. Leaves 0. Umbel apparently lateral, the lower bract 1-4 in. long continuing the stem. Spikelets clustered, ¼-⅓ in. long, ellipsoid, dusky brown; glumes ovate, mucronate, glabrous; hypog. bristles 0; style linear, 3-fid; nut 2/5 length of glume, 3-angled, black, smooth, slightly wavy.

Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: Mid Robo 8,700 ft.).

S. maritimus Linn.

Glabrous herb; stolons becoming rhizomes; stems 1-3 ft. long, stout, 3-angled. Leaves as long as stem, ¼-⅓ in. broad. Umbel compound or simple or reduced to a head of 1-3 spikelets, rarely over 4-6 in. diam.; bracts several, lowest up to 8 in. long. Spikelets 30-40 to the umbel, oblong, ½-1 in. long, dark brown, often clustered; glumes ovate emarginate and mucronate, hairy at tip; hypog. bristles 3-6, usually shorter than nut; style long, branches 2-3, long; nut variable in size, 3-angled, obovoid, black, smooth or reticulate.

Berber Prov. (Shendi).

S. kyllingioides Boeck.

Glabrous perennial; stems rarely over 6 in. long, slender, nodeless. Leaves ½ length of stem. Head 1, subglobose, ab. ⅙ in. diam., green or pale brown with glume points prominent on all sides; bracts 3-4, spreading, longer than head. Glumes ovate, contracted into a linear obtuse end; hypog. bristles 0; style shorter than nut; branches 3, long; nut ⅓ length of glume, smooth, black-brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Gendua River); Fung Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. squarrosus Linn.

Small glabrous, tufted annual; stems 2-8 in. high, nodeless. Leaves ⅓ length of stem. Head of 1-6 (rarely 10) squarrose spikelets; bracts 3-5, 1-4 in. long. Spikelets ⅛-¼ in. long, many-fld., greenish or brownish; glumes caducous in fruit, narrowly obovate, narrowed into a mucro not longer than glume; hypog. bristles 0; style hardly any, branches 3 short, recurved; nut ⅔ length of glume, obovoid, 3-angled, smooth; sta. 1, or rarely 2.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. Isolepis Boeck.

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 1-10 in. long, setaceous. Leaves ¼-1½ in. long, setaceous. Spikelet 1 to a stem, ⅛-⅙ in. long, ovoid, not squarrose, nut-coloured, apparently lateral owing to ¼-1 in. long bract continuing the stem; glumes obovate, triangular at top, caducous in fruit; hypog. bristles 0, but a very thin scale is sometimes present; sta. 1-2; style hardly any, branches 2, short, recurved; nut length of glume, black, smooth.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

833Fuirena pubescens Kunth.

Hairy herb; rhizome long; stems often solitary, 4-16 in. long, 3-angled, nodose. Leaves 6 in. long, base with a prominent ligule, lowest bract as highest leaf. Infl. a panicle 10 by 2 in., with remote peduncles, or reduced to 1-2 few-fld. corymbose clusters. Spikelets ovoid, ¼-⅓ in. long; glumes broad-elliptic, obtuse, hairy on back, blackish-green, ending in a bristle ⅓-½ length of glume; hypog. bristles 0 or rudimentary; style 3-fid; nut less than ½ length of glume, white.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (main river near Nuer villages).

F. glomerata Lam.

Hairy annual; stems 4-16 in. long. Leaves 4-6 in. long. Panicle oblong of a few clusters. Spikelets ⅓-½ by ⅛-⅙ in.; glumes dark green to dull brown, keel continued in a long bristle; hypog. bristles 3 or 6, outer linear or 0, 3 inner as long as nut, broad, quadrate, toothed, clawed, falling with the nut; nut ½ length of glume, pallid, acuminate both ends, beak narrow; style 3-fid.

Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

F. leptostachya Oliv.

Annual. Leaves 4-8 in. long. Spikelets ¼-⅓ by 1/16-1/10 in.; 3 interior hypog. bristles as long as nut, lamina small, oval, or with 2 recurved teeth.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas; Bongo: Gir); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

F. umbellata Rottb.

Hairy or only the glumes; rhizome stout; stems 1½-5 ft. long, nodose. Leaves up to 6 by ½ in. Pan. long, oblong often with many axillary compound corymbs and 200-600 spikelets. Spikelets ¼-⅓ by ⅛-⅙ green or dull chestnut-coloured. Glume elliptic, keel produced into a curved bristle; hypog. bristles: 3 outer small or absent, 3 inner as long as nut, obovate, hardly clawed; style 3-fid, linear; nut ½ length of glume, acuminate at both ends, pallid to brown, beak small, narrow.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas; Niamniam-land: Yubbo River); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

834Lipocarpha argentea R. Br.

Glabrous herb; rhizome up to 1½ in.; stems tufted, 4-24 in. long, nodeless. Leaves ⅓ to full length of stem. Head 1; bracts 2-3, horizontal, lowest 1-4 in. long. Spikelets 3-10, ¼-½ in. long, ovoid or cylindric; glumes dense in numerous spirals, obovate, obtuse, incurved in fruit; hypog. scales (not bristles) shorter than glume; sta. 2; style ⅔ length of nut, branches 2-3 short; nut ½ length of scale, brown-black, smooth.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Meshra El Rek); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

L. Prieuriana Steud.

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 4-16 in. long, 3-angled. Leaves ¼-½ length of stem. Spikelets 3-18 to a head, ⅓ by ⅛ in., cylindric, dense, smooth, reddish to purple; bracts 3-7, spreading, up to 4 in. long; glumes broadly obovate, obtuse; hypog. hyaline scales 2, lower suborbicular, 5-nerved; nut obovoid-globose; style branches 3, almost sessile.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

835Ascolepis protea Welw. var. β. bellidiflora Welw.

Glabrous herb; stems 4-15 in. long, nodeless. Leaves ½ length of stem. Head 1 of 1-6 spikelets, straw-coloured, ¼-¾ in. diam., hemispheric or subglobose; bracts 3-4, 1-2½ in. long. Glumes lin.-lanc., hyaline scale (squamella) solitary, up to ⅓-½ in. long or more; protruding beyond glume; sta. 1; style ½ length of nut, 2-3-fid; nut minute, dark brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

A. capensis Benth.

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 8-20 in. long. Leaves ½-¾ length of stem, narrow. Head of 1-3 spikelets, fused or nearly distinct, whitish; bracts 3, lowest 1-4 in. long, spreading. Spikelets ⅓-½ in. long, ovoid, dense; glumes oblong, shorter than the solitary squamella, which is flattened and shaped as a watch-pocket with a beak to the front up to ⅙ in. long. Style 2-fid, hardly exserted from the pocket; nut sessile, black, compressed.

Upper White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Jur Aweit); Bahr El Jebel.

(iii) Empty glumes at base of spikelet 3; fertile glume 1; hypogynous bristles 6; inflorescence panicled; fertile fl. bisexual.

836Rhynchospora aurea Vahl.

Nearly glabrous herb; stem nodose, 3-6 ft. long. Leaves 1-2 ft. by ½ in. Panicle up to 16 in. long with lower axillary distant corymbs 2-5 in. diam., bearing 100-200 spikelets. Spikelets usually in clusters of 3-10; hypog. bristles 6, barbed upwards; style subentire or obscurely 2-fid, base dilated; nut ½ length of glume, notched each side, beak as long as nut.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

(iv) Flowers unisexual; spikelets with 1 fem. flower only; infl. panicled or capitate; hypog. bristles 0 to many.

837Scleria pergracilis Kunth.

Almost glabrous annual; stems tufted, 1-2 ft. long, nodose, slender. Leaves 4-12 in. long, narrow. Spikelets many, bearing both male and fem. fl. in clusters of 2-5, ⅛-⅙ in. long, sessile, on a spike 2-5 in. long; bracts to the clusters ovate, acute, ab. length of clusters, 2-sexual (monœcious) spikelet of ab. 7 glumes, 2 lowest empty, the third carrying the nut, ⅛-⅙ in. long, elliptic-oblong, dark brown; upper glumes male or empty; also many spikelets similar to foregoing, without fem. fl.; sta. 1-3; anthers crested; style linear 3-fid, not dilated at base; nut minute, white; hypog. bristles 0.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. melanotricha A. Rich.

Hairy annual; stems 4-24 in. long, slender. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stem. Spike 2-7 in. long, ciliate, with long rusty-black or white hairs, with cluster of 3-12 spikelets, ¼-⅓ in. diam., sessile, pendent; bracts inconspicuous. Spikelets 1/5 in. long, black-red or pallid; nut 1/16 in. long, straw-coloured; otherwise much as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Gir).

S. Buchanani Boeck.

Sparsely hairy perennial; stems 12-20 in. long, base bulbous. Leaves 4-12 in. long. Spike subsimple, 3-6 in. long; lower bracts often longer than the clusters of 4-10 spikelets, which are suberect in fruit and 1/5 in. long; nut minute, white, smooth.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

S. Schweinfurthiana Boeck.

Thinly hairy perennial; stems 1-2 ft. long, not bulbous. Leaves 4-12 in. long. Spike subsimple with 10-14 clusters of often 10-12 spikelets on a rhachis 4-8 in. long; spikelets ¼ in. long, ellipsoid-oblong, chestnut-coloured; nut white, tubercled on shoulders, minute.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

S. glandiformis Boeck.

Herb, nearly glabrous except ligule; stems 16-24 in. long. Leaves up to 1 ft. long. Panicle with lower peduncle remote, nearly included in sheath of the bract, carrying oblong inflorescences with 6-12 nuts, whence bracts ½-1½ in. long diverge; monœcious spikes none, or very few. Spikelets nearly ¼ in. long, straw-coloured, marked with brown; nut ⅙ in. long, cylindric, tessellated, stalked, with short pallid 3- (ovate) lobed straw-coloured hypog. disk, hardly longer than the stalks of the nut.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. globonux C. B. Clarke.

Leaves with spreading hairs or glabrate. Nut large, globose, tessellate, minutely hairy on edge of reticulations; hypog. disc 3-lobed, lobes subquadrate; otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

S. complanata Boeck.

Annual; stems 3 ft. long, minutely rusty retrorse scabrous. Leaves 4-12 in. long. Lowest axillary ped. hardly exserted from sheath; ped. carrying 1-4 fem. fl.; nut-bearing spikelets ab. ¼ in. long, pale green or reddish; spikelet bract as long as it; nut small, subglobose, tessellated, pallid; hypog. disc short funnel-shaped with 3 thin straw-coloured ovate lobes.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. Schimperiana Boeck. var. hypoxis C. B. Clarke.

Slightly hairy herb; stems 16 in. long. Leaves 12 in. long, ¼ in. or more broad, very obtuse at tip. Lowest axillary ped. exserted 1-2 in., carrying 3-5 nuts. Fem. spikelets ¼ in. long, chestnut-brown; nut large, depressed globose, smooth, white; hypog. disc with 3 small oblong, pallid lobes.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

S. canaliculato-triquetra Boeck.

Robust herb; stem 3-5 ft. long. Leaves 8-12 by ¼-⅓ in. Lowest axillary peduncle remote, often exserted 3-6 in., carrying up to 20-50 spikelets. Nut ⅛ in. long, ovoid, white, smooth; 3 lobes of disc small, tipped with minute tails.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. gracillima Boeck.

Very slender, glabrous herb; stems 16-24 in. long, almost capillary, each bearing 2-3 nuts. Leaves 4-8 in. long, narrow. Pan. very slender, with few branches; lowest ped. remote, exserted ½-1½ in., nodding, with 1 nut. Spikelets all 1-sexual, the fem. scarcer, 1/6-1/5 in. long; nut minute, globose, smooth, white; lobes of disc 3, short, rounded.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

S. melanomphala Kunth.

Robust, glabrate to hairy herb; rhizome creeping; stems 2-3 ft. long, scabrous to smooth, 3-angled. Leaves up to 24 by ⅓ in., scabrous on margins. Infl. straggling 1-2 ft., compound, partial panicles dense oblong to linear. Spikelets 1-sexual, ¼-⅓ in. long, green or mottled with brown; nut ⅛ in. long, ovoid, smooth, white or with black tip; disc obpyramidal, large, ruddy black, margin triangular yellow; lobes 0.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: River Hoo, Buddu); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

S. racemosa Poir.

Robust, glabrous herb; rhizome thick scaly; stems 3-6 ft. long. Leaves 1-2 ft. by ½-1¼ in. 3-nerved, scabrous on margins, near top suddenly narrowed; sheaths 3-winged; ligule ovate 3-angular, up to ¼ in. long. Infl. up to 1 ft. long; partial panicles 2-3 in. long on stout axillary peduncles, forming a terminal compound panicle. Spikelets 1-sexual, 1/5 in. long, pallid or dark; fem. glumes ovate, shorter than nut; nut ¼-⅙ in. long, ovoid, white or coloured; disc thickened, the lobes forming a cup with densely ciliate margin, holding the base of the nut.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

838Diplacrum africanum C. B. Clarke.

Weak, nearly glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-5 in. long, leafy. Leaves 1-1½ in. by 1/8-1/5 in., tip suddenly acuminate. Infl. of minute axillary heads often all up the stem. Spikelets ab. 1/10 in. long, ovate-lanc., greenish, all 1-sexual; nut minute, subglobose, white, striate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

839Eriospora schweinfurthiana C. B. Clarke.

Glabrous perennial; stems tufted, 2 ft. high, bearing leaves all the way up. Leaves 4-16 by ¼ in.; sheaths stout, straw-coloured, imbricate, striate, split as in grasses with a ring of short hairs in the mouth. Pan. 8-14 in. long with several peduncles, 3-6 in. long, from each sheath, often carrying narrow panicles. Spikelets ⅓ in. long, 2-3-fid, dusky straw-coloured; bracts ovate, acuminate; glumes ovate; hypog. hairs numerous, fine; sta. 1-3; nut from an ovoid base tapering into a beak, altogether ab. 1/5 in. long; style short, branches 3, longer.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Baginze mountain).

GRAMINEÆ.

A KEY TO THE GENERA OF GRASSES.

Adapted from O. Stapf. in Flora of Tropical Africa, vol. ix.

Subfamily I. PANICOIDEÆ.

Mature spikelets falling entire from their pedicels, or with them; perfect spikelets with two heteromorphous flowers, the upper perfect, the lower male or barren.

Tribe I. MAYDEÆ.

Sexes in different inflorescences, male spikelets in large terminal panicles, female spikelets in “cobs” in the axils of the lower leaves.

Only genus.

840 Zea

Tribe II. ANDROPOGONEÆ.

Spikelets in pairs, usually one sessile, the other stalked, very rarely both stalked. Glumes more or less rigid, and firmer than the valves, the lower always larger than the florets. Valves membranous, often transparent, that of the upper floret awned or reduced to an awn, or blunt.

A. Joints and pedicels more or less stout, three cornered or rounded.

i. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered; fertile floret awned from the sinus of the 2-divided or 2-toothed valve.

(a) Racemes in pairs or digitate.

(b) Pedicelled spikelets developed; lower glume flat, keels frequently winged or marginate.

841 Ischæmum

(bb) Pedicelled spikelets represented by a narrow curved pedicel, lower glume convex, covered all over with transverse much raised teeth or warts, not keeled.

842 Thelepogon

(aa) Racemes always solitary on the stems or branches. Glumes not winged, the upper of the sessile spikelets with a silky-haired awn.

843 Sehima

ii. Fertile spikelets 1- or 2-flowered, fertile florets awnless.

(a) Racemes in spatheate inflorescences, racemosely arranged on a common axis, or subpaniculate or solitary.

(b) Lower glume smooth, long tailed, racemes digitate, spikelets 2-flowered.

844 Vossia

(bb) Lower glume rough, not tailed, racemes panicled, spikelets 1-flowered.

845 Jardinea

(aa) Racemes at the end of the stems and their branches, in a false spatheate panicle, or solitary and terminal on simple or sparingly branched stems.

(b) Sessile spikelets small, globose, 1-flowered; joints and pedicels fused.

846 Manisuris

(bb) Sessile spikelets not globose.

(c) Racemes usually more or less with long soft hairs, never cylindrical, joints and pedicels moderately, stout, gaping.

(d) Spikelets 2-flowered, very softly hairy all over.

847 Lasiurus

(dd) Spikelets 1-flowered, racemes more or less hairy from the joints and pedicels or the edges of the spikelets; lower glume with a transparent oil-duct inside each keel, or a fringe of hairy warts.

848 Elyonurus

(cc) Racemes smooth (not hairy), cylindrical, particularly when the spikelets are closed.

(d) Pedicels and joints fused.

(e) Racemes stout, few from each stem, sessile spikelets 2-flowered.

849 Rottbœllia

(ee) Racemes slender in ample spatheate panicles, sessile, spikelets 1-flowered.

850 Ophiurus

(dd) Pedicels free from the joints.

(e) Pedicels club-shaped, joints cup-shaped, gaping, spikelets of each pair similar, 2-flowered smooth.

851 Chasmopodium

(ee) Pedicels and joints touching the main axis behind. Pedicels spikelets usually much reduced, back of the lower glume usually transversely rough.

852 Rhytachne

AA. Joints and pedicels slender, thread-like, of uniform width or wedge or club-shaped; fertile spikelets usually 1-flowered and awned.

(i) All spikelets alike in shape and sex.

(a) Axis of racemes tough, all spikelets pedicelled. Racemes in spike-like or spindle-shaped solitary panicles, spikelets blunt, not awned, glumes delicate.

853 Imperata

(aa) Axis of racemes readily breaking up at joints; spikelets paired, one sessile, the other pedicelled. Panicles wide, more or less silvery and feathery; spikelets usually armed.

854 Saccharum

(ii) The spikelets of each pair different in sex and frequently also in shape and size, or if alike in sex, then both male or neuter.

(a) Racemes in more or less compound espatheate panicles; pedicels without a translucent middle line. Stalked spikelets male, neuter, or quite suppressed. Awn from the sinus of the 2 divided valve.

(b) Spikelets compressed on the back (at least when in flower).

855 Sorghum

(bb) Spikelets more or less compressed laterally.

(c) Racemes of many pairs of spikelets.

856 Vetiveria

(cc) Racemes usually reduced to 1 sessile male, and 2 pedicelled or barren spikelets.

857 Chrysopogon

(aa) Racemes not in compound espatheate panicles, or if so, then the pedicels with a translucent middle line.

(b) Fertile valve awned from low down on the back.

859 Arthraxon

(bb) Fertile valve awned from the sinus of a 2-divided or 2-dentate valve, or continuing the more or less minutely stalked valve.

(c) Margins of the lower glume of the fertile spikelets incurved and the glume sharply 2-keeled more or less all along, with a short, obtuse, hard point. Awn smooth or roughish, very rarely hairy. Andropogon (sp.).

(d) spikelets awned, the awn forming a continuation of the minutely stalked fertile glume.

(e) Racemes digitate or racemosely arranged.

(f) Sessile spikelets of all pairs perfect, awned.

860 Amphilophis

(ff) Sessile spikelets of the lowest 1-3 pairs male or neuter, and awnless.

861 Dichanthium

(ee) Racemes solitary.

858 Eremopogon

(dd) Awn from the sinus of the 2-divided or 2-toothed fertile valve.

(e) Racemes solitary at the ends of the stalks and their branches, usually gathered into a narrow, lax, spatheate, false panicle; joints and pedicels often somewhat stout.

(f) Pedicelled spikelets not conspicuously larger than the sessile, very often smaller to very small, upper glume awnless.

862 Schizachyrium

(ff) Pedicelled spikelets very much larger than the sessile, almost concealing them; upper glume awned.

863 Diectomis

(ee) Racemes mostly in pairs at the end of undivided stalks, or gathered into spatheate false, or true, panicles, each pair supported or surrounded by a spathe; more rarely the racemes digitate, the lateral always sessile, joints and pedicels narrow and of uniform width.

(f) Racemes mostly in pairs or sometimes digitate at the end of simple or almost simple stems.

864 Andropogon

(ff) Racemes always in pairs, with a spathe or sheath supporting or surrounding each pair, gathered into often much divided spatheate panicles, mostly aromatic grasses.

865 Cymbopogon

(cc) Margins of the lower glume of the fertile spikelet inrolled and 2-keeled only close to the tips, with the hardened base elongate and sharp pointed. Awn hairy or glabrous.

(d) Awn from the sinus of the 2-divided fertile valve.

(e) Racemes paired in more or less compound panicles; awn hairy.

Only genus.

866 Hyparrhenia

(ee) Racemes usually much reduced, solitary at the end of the stalks and their branches, or in more or less compound panicles; awns smooth.

Only genus.

867 Monocymbium

(dd) Awn from the minutely stalked fertile valve, hairy.

(e) Racemes many-jointed, solitary.

Only genus.

868 Heteropogon

(ee) Racemes few-jointed, much contracted solitary on the branches of decompound panicles.

Only genus.

869 Themeda

Tribe III. PANICEÆ.

Spikelets in usually continuous spikes, racemes or panicles. Glumes thin and green or membranous, the lower generally smaller, very small or suppressed. Lower valve generally resembling the glumes in structure and nerves, the upper fertile firmer, at length rigid, often papery to brittle, awnless, very rarely shortly pointed (Urochloa, Alloteropsis sp.), or finely awned (Alloteropsis sp.).

A. Inflorescence of usually slender (stout in Alloteropsis) spike-like, digitate, very rarely solitary racemes. Fruiting valve with usually flat, thin to transparent margins, often brown or black.

(a) Spikelets quite awnless.

870 Digitaria

(aa) Spikelets slender awned from the fertile valve.

871 Alloteropsis

AA. Inflorescence various, not as A. Fruiting valve with more or less inrolled margins, usually brittle, straw coloured or whitish.

(a) Spikelets falling entire and singly from the persistent pedicels.

(b) Spikelets not awned, or if awned, with the awn from the undivided tips of the upper glume and lower valve.

(c) Inflorescence not an open or contracted and cylindrical panicle, usually composed of spikelike racemes, the spikelets of which face one direction.

(d) Back of the fruit away from the axis.

(e) Lower glume rudimentary, forming with the base of its stalk a swollen annular callus. Fruit minutely pointed.

872 Eriochloa

(ee) No callus at the base of the spikelet, lower glume present.

873 Brachiaria

(dd) Back of fruit turned to axis.

(e) Lower glume absent.

874 Paspalum

(ee) Lower glume developed.

(f) Glumes neither awned nor tailed.

(g) Spikelets crowded, more or less contiguous.

(h) Fruiting valve acute, not shortly pointed, spikelets solitary, closely 2-rowed, false spikes rigid.

875 Paspalidium

(hh) Fruiting valve obtuse, abruptly short pointed or tipped, spikelets solitary or paired, false spikes often curved or bent.

876 Urochloa

(gg) Spikelets very laxly arranged, in one row.

878 Acroceras

(ff) Glumes with a tail or awn.

(g) Glumes awned from the undivided, acute or tapering tip, or prolonged into a tail. Racemes dense, more or less one sided.

877 Echinochloa

(gg) Glumes awned from the slightly notched tip.

879 Oplismenus

(cc) Inflorescence an open panicle, or cylindrical and spikelike.

(d) Spikelets not supported by bristle-like branches, inflorescence a panicle.

880 Panicum

(dd) Spikelets without bristles, but inflorescence composed of cylindrical false spikes with a stout axis, spikelets more or less swollen.

881 Sacciolepis

(ddd) All the spikelets, or only the upper of each branch supported by bristle-like branchlets. Inflorescence cylindrical and spike-like.

882 Setaria

(bb) Spikelets finely awned from the notched tips of the upper glume, and barren valve.

(c) Upper glume swollen at or below middle, 5-nerved, nerves faint, hidden by copious and long silky hairs.

883 Tricholæna

(cc) Upper glume, not swollen, 5-7-nerved, nerves conspicuous.

884 Melinis

(aa) Spikelets falling in groups, or if singly, then surrounded by a whorl of bristles, or at least supported by 1 to several bristles.

(b) Whorl of bracts formed by hardened lower glumes of the spikelets of each cluster, clusters spike-like.

885 Anthephora

(bb) Whorl formed of bristles, sometimes feathery, free, is not united.

886 Pennisetum

(bbb) Whorl of spines or rigid bristles united at the base into a hard cup.

887 Cenchrus

Subfamily II. POOIDEÆ.

Mature spikelets breaking up, leaving the persistent or sub-persistent glumes on the pedicel, or if falling entire, not consisting of 2 heteromorphous flowers as in Panicoideæ.

A. Blades of leaves never transversely veined.

B. Awn of the fertile floret, if present, kneed and twisted below the knee, or straight in reduced forms. (Up to Perotis.)

C. Florets 2 or more. (Up to Phragmites.)

Tribe IV. ARUNDINELLEÆ.

Florets 2, heteromorphous, the lower awnless or barren. Lower valve awnless, upper always awned, at length firm or hard. Awn from the sinus between 2 sometimes minute lobes, usually kneed and twisted below the knee.

(a) Spikelets solitary on distinct pedicels.

888 Trichopteryx

(aa) Spikelets in clusters of 3.

889 Tristachya

Tribe V. AVENEÆ.

Florets 2 to many, all alike, glumes generally transparent, thin, and dry. Awn if present, from the back or from the sinus, kneed and usually twisted below the knee.

(a) Valves awned from the back.

890 Avena

(aa) Valve awned from the sinus of the more or less distinctly 2-lobed tip.

891 Danthonia

Tribe VI. ARUNDINEÆ.

Florets 2 to many, enveloped by very long hairs. Glumes and valves membranous, often clear, awnless or minutely awned from the tips.

Only genus.

892 Phragmites

CC. Floret one. (Up to Perotis.)

Tribe VII. AGROSTEÆ.

Floret 1. Valve membranous or thin and green, not or hardly changed when mature, usually ending abruptly. Awn, if present, from the back.

(a) Spikelets in compact heads or false spikes, glumes awnless.

893 Heleochloa

(aa) Spikelets not in compact false spikes, more or less spike-like, glumes awned from the notched or lobed tips.

894 Polypogon

Tribe VIII. STIPEÆ.

Floret 1. Valve hardened when mature, tightly enveloping the fruit, awn terminal. Awns 3, from the entire tip; or one, simple below and 3 branched above.

895 Aristida

Tribe IX. ZOYSIEÆ.

Floret 1, mature spikelets falling entire and singly, or in clusters. Valve small, delicately membranous. Spikelets in slender spike-like panicles or racemes.

(a) Glumes awnless and at least the upper rough.

(b) Spikelets in sessile clusters of 2-4; lower glume minute, transparent or suppressed.

896 Tragus

(bb) Spikelets in pairs, or solitary on a flattened stalk and falling with it, both glumes rough.

897 Latipes

(aa) Glumes drawn out into a long fine awn. Spikelets solitary, smooth, spikes usually long.

898 Perotis

BB. Awn of fertile floret, if present, never kneed and twisted below the knee. (Up to Bromus.)

C. Valves typically 3-nerved. (Up to Tripogon.)

Tribe X. SPOROBOLEÆ.

Floret 1. Glumes and valves very similar. Valve membranous, acute or obtuse, not changed when ripe, awnless, usually olive or olive grey. Seed often free in the delicate seed-coat.

Only genus.

899 Sporobolus

Tribe XI. ERAGROSTEÆ.

Florets usually numerous (1 in Leptochloa sp.) and protruding from the glumes. Spikelets pedicelled and variously panicled, or sessile or subsessile in spikes which are racemosely arranged. Glumes and valves rather similar. Valves membranous, very often olive green or olive grey, very rarely with a very short awn. (Diplachne sp.).

(a) Valves undivided, not short pointed, usually smooth, occasionally hairy. (Eragrostis sp.).

(b) Spikes straight, crowded into a long narrow dense panicle, spikelets very closely packed.

900 Desmostachya

(bb) Spikelets usually in panicles, rarely in spikes.

901 Eragrostis

(aa) Valves usually notched and minutely pointed, frequently more or less hairy near the base or along the sides.

(b) Spikelets much over 1/25 in. long, in often flexuous spike-like racemes, or in short contracted panicles; valves often dark.

902 Diplachne

(bb) Spikelets rarely over 1/25 in. long in very slender spikes on a long common axis, valves usually pale with green nerves.

903 Leptochloa

Tribe XII. CHLORIDEÆ.

Spikelets sessile or subsessile, in 2-ranked, secund, usually very dense, rarely loose spikes; spikes solitary, or digitate, or racemosely arranged on a common axis. Valves generally membranous to papery. Awn, if any, straight, fine, from the blunt or notched tip, or all 3 nerves running out into short awns or bristles.

(a) Valves undivided, notched, or more or less 2-toothed or 2-lobed, blunt, or with the middle nerve running out into an awn, or minute point. (Trichoneura.)

(b) Spikelets 1-flowered.

(c) Spikelets with long flexuous awns in dense digitate spikes.

904 Schœnefeldia

(cc) Spikelets awnless or very shortly awned.

(d) Spikes solitary.

905 Microchloa

(dd) Spikes always digitate.

906 Cynodon

(bb) Spikelets with several florets.

(c) Spikelets with 1, rarely 2 (Chloris sp.), fertile, and 1 or several imperfect florets above or below the fertile.

(d) Fertile florets with imperfect florets above it.

(e) Valves with a short erect awn from the notched tips. Spikelets in long, secund solitary spikes.

907 Enteropogon

(ee) Spikelets in digitate spikes, rarely solitary; valves awned from below the tips.

908 Chloris

(dd) Fertile florets with 2 imperfect florets below and 2 or more above. Spikes solitary, secund, compact, upper glume turning from the axis, with a stiff bristle from the back.

909 Ctenium

(cc) Spikelets with 2 or more fertile florets, and without imperfect ones below them.

(d) Valves awnless, or with a rigid point or very short awn from the fine tips, undivided or nearly so.

(e) Spikelets in digitate or subdigitate spikes.

(f) Glumes broad, not keeled, grain deeply hollowed out on the face.

910 Cœlachyrum

(ff) Glumes strongly keeled; grain not hollowed out.

(g) Spikes terminated by a spikelet, glumes and valves not finely pointed or obscurely so.

911 Eleusine

(gg) Spikes terminating with a sharp point; upper glume and valves rigidly sharp pointed or shortly awned.

912 Dactyloctenium

(ee) Spikelets in racemose spikes.

913 Dinebra

(dd) Valves distinctly blunt, toothed or lobed, the middle nerve of the valve running out into a fine point or short awn.

914 Trichoneura

(aa) Valves variously toothed or lobed, with the middle and side nerves running out into awns or sharp points.

(b) Spikelets usually pedicelled, in open or contracted panicles, valves toothed, or lobed, and 3-awned, awns fine and bristle-like.

915 Triraphis

(bb) Spikelets sessile, in solitary or racemosely arranged, often very short spikes.

916 Tripogon

CC. Valves 5- to many-nerved. (Up to Bromus.)

Tribe XIII. PAPPOPHOREÆ.

Valves broad, cleft into 2 to many, sometimes, awnlike lobes, with or without alternating straight awns from the sinuses.

(a) Fertile floret 1; valves cleft into 9 awl-like, awn-like lobes.

917 Enneapogon

(aa) Fertile florets 3-5; valves cleft into 4 transparent lobes alternating with 5 straight awns from the sinuses.

918 Schmidtia

Tribe XIV. ORYZEÆ.

Spikelets all alike, or more or less differing and unisexual. Fertile floret 1, awnless, rarely even with a bristle; terminal with 2 minute empty florets below it, solitary; glumes very minute or suppressed.

(a) Spikelets panicled, fertile valve coriaceous, lower florets represented by two scales or bristles falling with the mature fruit.

919 Oryza

(aa) Spikelets panicled, fertile valves papery, lower florets quite suppressed.

920 Leersia

Tribe XV. FESTUCEÆ. Fertile florets 2 to many, rarely 1, protruding from the glumes. Glumes more or less resembling the valves in general appearance. Awns, if any, not kneed, terminal or subterminal.

(a) Spikelets sessile in long cylindric dense or often interrupted spikes, spikelets breaking up at maturity. Glumes and valves drawn out into long fine points.

921 Elytrophorus

(aa) Spikelets in compact ovoid heads, or short interrupted spikes; glumes and valves broad.

922 Æluropus

(aaa) Spikelets in loose, more or less open panicles; valves lance-shaped, rounded on the back.

923 Bromus

AA. Leaf blades transversely veined, or if not so, then tall shrubs with woody stems.

Tribe XVI. PHAREÆ.

Spikelets heteromorphous, unisexual, monoecious, the male small. Floret 1. One or both glumes of the male often minute. Leaf blades flat, very broad, many nerved, and definitely stalked.

Only genus.

924 Olyra

Tribe XVII. BAMBUSEÆ.

Shrubs or trees, leaf blades flat. Florets one to many. Valves thin green to leathery.

Only genus.

925 Oxytenanthera

840Zea Mays Linn. DURA SHAMI, EISH ER RIF—Arab; MAINTAF—Nuer.

The Maize Plant. A tall annual grass with sexes in different inflorescences, the male spikelets in terminal panicles, the female in the axils of the sheathing leaves, forming a “cob.”

Pollination is affected by the wind.

Cultivated throughout the Sudan.

841Ischæmum brachyatherum Fenzl. BEGHEIL, GHARAZ (N. Kordn.)—Arab; NUN—Shilluk.

Perennial densely tufted grass up to over 3 ft. high; racemes in pairs or threes, joints very stout, club-shaped. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, the other pedicelled and developed, the sessile spikelet variably hairy, rendering the appearance very different. Awn to 5/12 in. long, twisted, sometimes purplish.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov. (near Rahad); Upper White Nile Prov.

842Thelepogon elegans Roth.

A coarse annual grass; stems tufted, as thick as a crow quill below, and branching above, up to 2 ft. high. Leaves up to 10 in. long and 1 in. broad, coarsely hairy on the edges and base; racemes 2-12 in number, 2-6 in. long. Pedicelled spikelets represented by linear curved pedicel. Glumes prominently ridged on the back. Awn up to 1 in. long, kneed at and twisted below the middle.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post.).

843Sehima ischæmoides Forsk.

Annual with slender stems in small bundles, rarely over 1½ ft. high; racemes solitary, sessile, 1-3 in. long, joints and pedicels densely hairy; glume of sessile spikelet deeply channelled. Awn up to 1¾ in. long, hairy, spirally twisted, brown in colour.

Nubia (Wadi Læmeb, between Suakin and Berber); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Snun).

844Vossia cuspidata Griff. UM SUF—Arab.

A very large floating grass, perennial, one of the principal constituents of the Sudd, copiously rooting from enlarged nodes, aerial portion up to over 3 ft. high; racemes solitary, or 2-6 on a common axis, 6-9 in. long, short, erect, or slightly nodding; joints about ⅓ in. long, curved, swollen, lower glume of sessile spikelets smooth with a channelled, pointed tail up to 1 in. long; spikelets 2-flowered, awnless.

Kordofan Prov. (Takari and Birket Rahad); Upper White Nile Prov. (Moghren El Behur); Bahr El Jebel.

845Jardinea congoensis Franch.

Tall coarse grass up to 10 ft. high, inhabiting swampy places; racemes very numerous, slender; spikelets 1-flowered, the lower glume of the sessile spikelets running out into a sharp point with sharp pointed tubercles on the back, much spreading during flowering. This grass is used for making mats, screens and baskets on the West Coast.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land, Kulongo).

846Manisuris granularis Sw.

Much branched annual grass up to over 3 ft. high; stems leafy to the top with shortish, soft, hairy foliage; spikes solitary, axillary and terminal, up to 1 in. long, partly enclosed in a spathe-like sheath; spikelets in dissimilar pairs, sessile spikelets conspicuous on account of their grain-like appearance.

This grass occurs in open loamy soil and is a good fodder.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Zeriba Ghattas).

847Lasiurus hirsutus Boiss.

Perennial grass, more or less branched and woody below, branches often in dense bundles; racemes at the end of the stalks enclosed in a spathe-like sheath, up to 4½ inches long. Spikelets 2-flowered, densely hairy all over; glume of sessile spikelet narrowed into a long divided beak.

Nubia (between Suakin and Berber, Wadi El Omari), Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, Jebel Waratab).

848Elyonurus Royleanus Nees.

Aromatic annual grass; stems from a few inches up to 1 ft. high, erect, tufted, especially above. Racemes 1¼-2¼ in. long, gathered in bunches, straight, embraced by the spathe, only slightly protruding, often tinged with red; spikelets 1-flowered, with the edges hairy, the lower glume with brush-like tubercles on the margins.

Red Sea Prov. (L. 21° to 22° N.); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Blue Nile Prov. (Sh. Talha).

849Rottbœllia exaltata Linn. f.

A tall coarse grass up to 12 ft. high, annual; stems stout, erect, hispid, branching from the base. Racemes stout, 3-6 in. long, cylindrical, particularly when the spikelets are closed.

A good fodder grass.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Jur Ghattas).

850Ophiurus papillosus Hochst.

Annual grass with rather stout stems 1½-4½ ft. high, much branched, the branches forming ultimately a rather leafy, hairy panicle. Racemes cylindric, slender, in simple spatheate panicles; spikelets sessile, 1-flowered. Grains oblong, 1/12 of an inch long.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

851Chasmopodium caudatum Stapf.

Annual grass up to 10 ft. high, rooting from the lower nodes. Racemes stout, cylindric, terminal, spike-like, up to 3 in. long, with a tail formed by the elongated glume of the terminal spikelet.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

852Rhytachne rottbœllioides Desv.

Perennial, densely tufted grass; stems 1-2½ ft. high, sometimes reddish in colour. Leaves long, narrow, especially when folded; racemes solitary, very slender, 3-6 in. long, wavy with longitudinal grooves; lower glumes of spikelets with transverse ridges.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Geneina.).

R. triaristata Stapf.

Annual grass up to 1½ ft. high; stems in small tufts; leaves very narrow and folded, as above. Racemes similar to above; pedicelled spikelet represented by a terminal pair of unequal bristles.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Gir.).

853Imperata cylindrica Beauv. var. Koenigii Durand & Schinz. BINGBA—Zande.

Erect, perennial grass, up to 4 ft. high; leaf sheaths long, bearded at the nodes. Panicle spike-like, 2-8 in. long, cylindric, very dense, axis not breaking up into joints; spikelets surrounded by long white hairs, giving the whole a silvery appearance.

This grass is used for thatching. A bad weed.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Gir); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

854Saccharum spontaneum Linn. var ægyptiacum. UM GHRUF (Fung)—Arab.

Tall, perennial, grass up to 12 ft. high, many jointed, silky below the panicles, and coated with wax below the joints. Panicle up to 1½ ft. long and 5 in. wide, dense, plumose, silvery; axis breaking up.

This grass is largely used for thatching; the reeds are made into arrow shafts.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma) Blue Nile Prov. Fung Prov. (Fazoghli, Jongol’s Post, Harun). Darfur Prov. (in wadis). Upper Nile Prov. (Malakal).

855Sorghum virgatum Stapf.

Annual, with slender stems branched from lower and middle nodes. Panicle narrow, very lax, ½ to over 2 ft. long, branches erect, the lowest up to 6 in. long, fine; sessile spikelets lanceolate, finely awned, deciduous with the pedicelled spikelet, pale straw colour, greenish in the upper portion, occasionally flushed with purplish brown.

Widely distributed in the northern Sudan, along river; also in Kordofan and Kassala Provinces.

S. lanceolatum Stapf.

Annual, with slender stems up to 10 ft. high. Panicle 9-15 in. long, loose, more or less nodding. Sessile spikelets lanceolate, acutely acuminate, sparingly hairy to almost smooth, straw coloured, slightly greenish, on maturity turning bright red, finely awned. Pedicelled spikelets deciduous. Grain obovate oblong, compressed on the back, yellowish above, paler below, 1/8 by 1/12 in. in size.

White Nile Prov. Upper Nile Prov.

S. sudanense Stapf. GARAWI—Arab; KAWKAW—Zande.

Tall annual, up to 10 ft. high; panicle open, pyramidal, spreading, 6-12 in. long, erect, up to 6 in. wide at the base. Sessile spikelet lanceolate to elliptic oblong, rather acute, finely hairy (white hairs), straw-colour to light yellow, with dull green, striate tips when young. Awned. Pedicelled spikelets persistent. Grain oval, flattened, orange, 16 in. long.

Widely distributed in northern and central Sudan. A fodder grass of growing importance.

S. halepense Pers. ADDAR—Arab.

Perennial, up to 5 ft. high; stems slender, springing from strong creeping rhizomes. Panicle open and spreading, 6 in.-2 ft. long. Fertile spikelet at first hairy, later becoming smooth; pedicelled spikelets falling early. This grass resembles Sudan Grass, but differs in the rootstock being perennial. It is therefore not suited to cultivation.

Khartoum Prov.

S. arundinaceum Stapf. ADDAR, ADDAR ABU SHAR (Kordn.)—Arab.

Tall annual, stems up to 12 ft. high; panicle pyramidal, larger and denser than S. sudanense. Pedicelled spikelets falling, narrowed to an acute point, oblong, not minutely-stalked; with yellowish or reddish hairs.

A good fodder grass.

Kordofan (Khor Abu Habl). Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

S. verticilliflorum Stapf.

Annual, 4-8 ft. high. Leaf blades 1 in. broad, sometimes flushed with purple. Panicle up to 15 in. long, pyramidal; sessile spikelets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, shortly narrowed to a point, hairs whitish or purplish, awn up to ½ in. long.

Bahr El Jebel (Lat. 7° N.).

S. abyssinicum Stapf.

Tall annual grass; leaves up to 2½ in. wide, panicle obovate lanceolate in shape, over 1 ft. long and about 4 in. wide; sessile spikelets ovate-oblong to elliptic-oblong, acute, with pale yellow hairs; awns up to 1 in. long.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat).

S. æthiopicum Rupr.

Annual, slender stalks up to 10 ft. high. Leaves up to 1 ft. long and up to over 1 in. wide, usually strongly flushed with red or purple. Panicle narrow, linear to linear-oblong, up to over 1 ft. long, often secund. Sessile spikelet ovate to elliptic lanceolate, clay colour, often reddish below; pedicelled spikelet linear lanceolate, often bright red. Awn about 1 in. long.

Nubia (Sagadi between Suakin and Berber); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (Jebel Arashkol).

S. aterrimum Stapf. ?BURRI—Arab (Schweinf).

Annual, with slender stalks up to 6 ft. high. Leaf sheath strongly blotched with blackish purple. Panicle narrowly oblong to ovate lanceolate. Sessile spikelet finally glossy jet black. Awn up to ¾ in. long, but sometimes reduced to short point.

Said to be cultivated in the South.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

S. guineense Stapf. var. robustum. VUNDE—Zande; BELL—Nuer.

Tall annual up to 7 ft. high; stems stout, wavy; leaf up to over 2 ft. by 3 in. Panicle oblong, mature spikelets gaping, exposing the grain, which is round and dark red in colour. Glumes also dark red, glossy.

Cultivated as a food crop in the Southern Sudan. A red dye is obtained from the leaf sheaths.

Mongalla, and Bahr El Ghazal Prov.

S. Durra Stapf. HAMAIZI, AKLIMAWI, and SAFRA KOHIA—Arab.

Tall annual grass up to 14 ft. high, leaf blades up to 15 in. by 2 in. Panicle much more compact than preceding, ovoid or ellipsoid; spikelets densely clustered; sessile spikelets rhombic-obovate in flower; mature grain subglobose with a broad, round, much exposed top, white, yellow, or reddish-yellow in colour.

Types. Aklimawi—glumes dull whitish with a brown band across just below the tip, more or less white hairy; grain with very broad and almost flattened yellow tops.

Safra Kohia—glumes more or less glossy without a dark band, straw yellow, frequently brown or blackish at the base, grains ivory colour.

Hamaizi—glumes more or less glossy without the dark band, burnt sienna colour to blackish, particularly below, grains reddish ochre.

Cultivated as a food crop.

White Nile Prov. (Geteina) and Blue Nile Prov.

S. caudatum Stapf.

Tall annual up to 14 ft., stems stout. Panicle erect, oblong, moderately to very dense. Sessile spikelets elliptic oblong, subobtuse or minutely pointed, sparingly hairy. Grain very broad-elliptic to orbicular, exposed.

var. angolensis. Grain up to ⅛ in. long, broad obovate in outline, dark red, glume black. Panicle erect, oblong, rather small and compact.

Largely grown in Southern Sudan. Type KAKWA—Arab.

var. Cerevisiæ. Grain up to ⅛ in. long, broad obovate in outline, purplish red in colour, glume black, panicle umbrella-shaped owing to shortening of axis.

Grown in Southern Sudan for preparation of native beer.

var. Schweinfurthii. Grain over ⅛ in. long, roundish, white or ochre salmon in colour, panicle oblong with axis running through; pedicelled spikelets more or less persistent, up to ⅛ in. long, mature glumes straw colour to whitish.

Types ZERZEREIH, BAHANA—Arab.

var. fragile. Grain over ⅛ in. long, obovate, rather flattened, mature glumes white, brittle upwards. Panicle slightly open, branches long ascending. Pedicelled spikelets persistent.

Type RUBAI (Sennar)—Arab.

var. umbonatum. Panicle as var. fragile, grain much flattened with a central boss, apricot colour, lower glume transversely constricted. Pedicelled spikelets persistent.

Type LAGHRAB EL HOMAR (Gezira)—Arab.

var. rutilum. Panicle obovate, rather open, mature glumes straw coloured, tinged with red, grain ochre red to salmon on the top, paler below. Pedicelled spikelet persistent.

Type HEGARIG—Arab.

var. atrolutescens. Panicle obovate, somewhat irregular and loose, branches long and flexuous. Mature glumes black, grains sulphur or maize yellow to ochre buff, large, flattened at the sides. Pedicelled spikelet persistent.

Type SAFRA, HEGIRI, ABU GARADA, SHABAT AHMAR—Arab.

var. gibbum. Panicle rather oblong, fairly dense; pedicelled spikelets readily deciduous; mature glumes black; grain ochre, salmon colour, terracotta or Indian red, more or less swollen on one side.

Type WAD MASNAB, EL TORAK, ABU GARADA—Arab.

var. Feterita. Panicle usually oblong, rather narrow, moderately open to dense, glumes glossy black, grain white with an enamelled appearance.

Type FETERITA.

var. Gassabi. Panicle dense, broadly elliptic to obovate. Glumes white, margins, often hairy. Grain creamy globose, rather large.

Type GASSABI.

S. papyrascens Stapf.

Tall annual up to 12 ft. high. Panicle oblong to oblanceolate in outline, moderately dense, branches long, flexuous. Mature glumes transparent, papery and brittle, breaking irregularly at the tips; grain shorter than the glumes and completely enclosed by them, or partly exposed where glumes are broken, obovate in shape, compressed, dull white or orange.

var. vesiculare Stapf. Mature spikelets somewhat inflated, pale straw colour, rather hairy, grain white.

Type FIKI EL MOSTAHI—Arab.

var. lateritium Stapf. Mature spikelets strongly flushed with brick red, grain orange, glume very brittle upwards.

Type GADDUM EL TEITAL—Arab.

Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.

S. Melaleucum Stapf. SHELSHELEIH—Arab.

Tall annual. Panicles large, oblong, rather one-sided, somewhat loose; branches slender, nodding, purple; grain white, as long as the rather brittle, glossy black, glumes; glumes hairy upwards.

Blue Nile Province.

S. Ankolib Stapf. ANKOLIB—Arab.

Tall annual. Panicle oblong, contracted, somewhat loose when mature, branches not very long, stout and branched, sessile spikelets very acute, thinly leathery below and sometimes separated from the papery upper portion by a transverse line. Grain enclosed, almost round in outline.

The canes contain sugar and are chewed. Cultivated. Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Blue Nile Prov. (Sh. Talha); Fung Prov. (Roseires).

S. cernuum Host. DURA SEIFI—Arab.

Tall annual up to 14 ft. Panicle eventually recurved, ovoid, very compact, lower glume leathery at the base, whitish hairy all over. Grain exposed or protruding, dull white, large. Cultivated.

Northern Sudan; Kassala Prov.

S. purpureo-sericeum Aschers. & Schweinf.

Erect annual up to 3 ft. high; leaves up to 9 in. long by ⅓ in. wide. Panicle up to 8 in. long, very loose; sessile spikelets lanceolate, acuminate; lower glume wholly leathery, dark brown to black except at the tip, with a band of soft brown hairs at the base. Awn up to 2 in. long twisted to the middle.

Kassala Prov. (along eastern borders); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

S. dimidiatum Stapf.

Perennial about 2 ft. high. Panicle very narrow and small. Sessile spikelet lanceolate acuminate, lower glume firmly coriaceous up to half way, then abruptly thinner, the coriaceous portion turning glossy brown or black. Awn slender, about 1 in. long.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

S. bipennatum Stapf.

Annual up to 4 ft. high. Panicle narrow, oblong, up to 7 in. long, lax; racemes reduced to a single spikelet accompanied by two slender pedicels. Glumes coriaceous, brown, the lower whitish at the base, silkily hairy. Awn about 1½ in. long, kneed at, and twisted below the middle.

Bahr El Ghazal (Jurland).

856Vetiveria nigritana Stapf.

Tall, densely tufted perennial grass, with branching rootstocks and spongy aromatic roots, up to 6 ft. high. Panicle up to over 1 ft. long, with long slender whisk-like branches. Sessile spikelets very narrowly lanceolate, dull green or somewhat purplish with a small bristle-like awn.

Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Bongo, and Addai).

857Chrysopogon Aucheri Stapf. var. quinqueplumis Stapf.

Tufted perennial grass up to 2 ft. high, with very slender stems, panicled, narrow, 2-4 in. long, loose with the tips of the branches bearded; racemes reduced to 1 or 2 joints. Spikelets hairy, greyish; awn also hairy, up to 1 in. long, yellow in colour.

Nubia (between Suakin and Berber, Wadi Læmeb and Wadi Derumkad, Long. 35° 25′ E.).

858Eremopogon foveolatus Stapf.

Tufted grass up to 2 ft. high (often under 1 ft.); leaves greyish, narrow. Panicle narrow, up to 3 in. long, spikelets pinkish, surrounded by white silky hairs. Awn up to 1½ in. long, kneed, brown.

Red Sea Prov. (maritime plain and up to 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Soturba range, Lat. 21° N.).

859Arthraxon serrulatus Hochst.

Perennial grass up to 2 ft. high; stems from a short rhizome. Leaves broadly lanceolate, 1-2 in. long, ½-¾ in. wide, with cartilaginous margins, hairy, particularly along the edges and on the sheaths. Racemes 2-5, slender, greenish or suffused with purple, 1¼ to over 2 in. long, on a short common axis; sessile spikelet narrow with small short teeth along the edges. Fertile valve awned from low down on the back. Awn up to over ½ in., fine, kneed about the middle.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).

860Amphilophis pertusa Stapf.

Perennial grass up to 2½ ft. high, stems slender. Panicles digitate, up to 2½ in. long, branches up to 10; racemes whitish or dull purplish with silky hairs. Sessile spikelets pale green, with a pronounced pit on the glume, awned; the awn forming a continuation of the valve, 1 in. long, kneed at the middle.

Mongalla Prov. (Yei River, Rejaf road).

A. insculpta Stapf. var. vegetior Stapf.

Similar to above but with 1-3 pits on the glume of pedicelled spikelets; sessile spikelets usually olive green or flushed with purple. Leaves rough and reed-like.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Atbara River (Gerba).

861Dichanthium annulatum Stapf. MALHI (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab.

Very tufted perennial grass up to over 3 ft. high, stems many noded. Leaves narrow, strongly ribbed. Inflorescence digitate, racemes 3-9, thinly hairy with long silky hairs, pale or flushed with purple; sessile spikelets of the lowest 1-3 pairs staminate or neuter and awnless; awn of fertile valve a continuation of the valve, nearly 1 in. long.

Red Sea Prov. (near Tokar, Port Sudan, Wadi Yumga, Wadi Læmeb); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov. (Sennar).

862Schizachyrium urceolatum Stapf.

Annual up to 1 ft. high, stems slender; leaves very narrow, reddish, the upper spathe-like, enclosing the racemes. Spikes solitary, joints and pedicels short, thickened, with a large slipper-like appendage. Awn about ¾ in. long, from the hollow of the 2-toothed fertile valve, which is divided to beyond the middle. Racemes smooth, except for a silky tuft of hairs at the base of the joint. Pedicelled spikelets not larger than the sessile.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).

S. exile Stapf.

Annual, stems in bundles, from ½ to 2 ft. high. Leaf blades eventually pinkish, very narrow, tapering to a fine point, uppermost spathe-like, enclosing the racemes, which are conspicuously hairy. Joints up to ¼ in. long, club-shaped, with a oblique minutely toothed membranous appendage, otherwise as S. urceolatum.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); White Nile (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid); Darfur Prov. (El Fasher); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas Zariba).

S. Schweinfurthii Stapf.

Perennial grass up to 2 ft. high, leaves narrow, tapering. Uppermost spathe-like. Inflorescence simpler and much less tufted than the preceding. Fertile valve shortly two toothed, joints very narrow. Sessile spikelets very close, almost smooth, awned.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Tokuto River).

863Diectomis fastigiata Kunth.

Annual, up to 5 ft. high; stems slender, kneed at the base; leaves, narrow, tapering to a fine bristle-like point. Inflorescence enclosed in a spathe, branches 2 or 3. Pedicelled spikelets larger than sessile, surrounded by long, soft, white hairs, very different from the sessile. Awn 1¼-2 in. long, kneed at the middle, twisted, yellow and brown.

Fung Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra 6,000 to 8,000 ft.).

864Andropogon tenuiberbis Hack.

Tall perennial grass up to 15 ft. high. Leaf blades narrow, over 1 ft. long, tapering to a fine point. Inflorescence a loose spatheate panicle up to 2½ ft. long, with about 6, 2-4-rayed tiers. All sessile spikelets alike, awns from the sinus of the 2-divided fertile valve, joints and pedicels very narrow and slender.

Bahr El Ghazal (Jur, Geneina, Jur Ghattas, Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba).

A. linearis Stapf.

Perennial up to 3 ft. high, leaves very narrow, sheaths often purplish. Inflorescence small, partly enclosed in a spathe, awn of sessile spikelet stout.

Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra, 8,000 ft.).

A. schirensis Hochst.

Perennial grass 3-10 ft. high, leaf blades narrowed, tapering, often 1½ ft. long. Inflorescence consisting of stout racemes in pairs, with compressed, long awned (as above) spikelets.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Khor Utrab); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

A. gayanus Kunth, var. genuinus Hack.

Tufted perennial grass, from a few feet to 10 ft. high. Leaves narrow, tapering, leaf sheath often wider than the blade, forming rounded shoulders at the junction. Inflorescence consisting of racemes in pairs; spikelets with long, soft, white hairs. Awns ½-¾ in. long. Joints and pedicels hairy on one side.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

var. squamulatus Stapf. As above, but joints and pedicels hairy on both margins. Awn ¾-1¼ in. long.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Upper Nile Prov. (Sobat River, Nasser); Kordofan (Rahad); Darfur (Jebel Marra, 9,300 ft.).

var. bisquamulatus Hack. ABU RIKHIS—Arab.

As above, joints and pedicels hairy on one or both margins, spikelets more or less hidden by silky hairs.

White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid and between Um Ruaba and Eilafun); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongoland, between Uringama and Ngoli).

865Cymbopogon sennarensis Chiov.

Densely tufted perennial up to 3 ft. high, often reddish in colour; leaves narrow, up to 8 in. long. Inflorescence a spatheate obovoid panicle, formed of more or less dense balls of racemes which are in pairs and each surrounded by a spathe. The sessile spikelets at the base of the spike are different from the rest; the lower glume of female spikelets with 4 nerves. Awn only ¼ in. long, bristle-like, spikelet surrounded by long, fine, white hairs.

Fung Prov.

C. proximus Stapf. MAHAREIB—Arab.

Similar to above, but spatheate panicle narrow, long, much interrupted below; the lower glume of the fertile spikelets with 2 short nerves. Awn a fine straight bristle up to ¼ in. long.

Red Sea Prov. (sea coast, Wadi El Omari); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Khartoum Prov. (Jebel Royan, Omdurman and Soba); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Abu Naama); Kordofan Prov. (Jebel Abu Sunun); Darfur Prov. (E. of El Fasher and Kulme).

C. near C. proximus Stapf.

Darfur Prov. (Kulme).

C. nervatus Chiov. NĀL. HAMAREIB, MARHABEIB, MAHAREIB, and TEITALIB (Kord)—Arab; SHIREIH (Dilling)—Nuba; NGEINY (Ying)—Nuer.

Annual (?) grass up to 3 ft. high. Panicle narrow, spatheate, similar to previous species, but lower glume of fertile spikelet with conspicuous long oil streaks on both ends of the groove.

This grass is much used for thatching. It contains a volatile oil which has been examined by the Govt. Chemist; vide W.T.R.L. report, 1921.

Widely distributed in plains of Central Sudan.

C. excavatus Stapf.

Perennial 2-4 ft. high. Inflorescence smaller and more open than above, also darker in colour, oil streaks obscure. Base and adjacent pedicel of sessile raceme joined together.

Khartoum Prov. (Soba); Blue Nile Prov. (Dinder River).

C. giganteus Chiov. MARAIRA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; NŪR (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.

Tall perennial up to 8 ft. high. Inflorescence frequently over 1 ft. long, very open, spatheate, and clustered as preceding; joints and pedicels densely hairy; base and adjacent pedicel of sessile raceme joined; oil streaks confined to upper portion of the lower glume of the sessile spikelet. Awn up to ½ in. long, bent about the middle.

Kordofan Prov. (Megenas and J. Kōn); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf to Hillet Kaka); Bahr El Ghazal Prov.

866Hyparrhenia finitima Stapf.

Perennial grass up to 6 ft. high. Inflorescence long, narrow, open, reddish. Racemes in pairs, dense, enclosed in a narrow, pointed spathe with reddish hairs. Awns slender, about 1¾ in. long, bent, twisted, and hairy.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma), Khor Utrub.

H. rufa Stapf. BURNUS (Rahad River)—Arab.

Perennial grass up to 8 ft. long, tufted. Spatheate panicle large, very lax; peduncles of racemes up to 2½ in. long, protruding from the tightly rolled spatheoles; spikelets reddish with reddish short hairs. Awns ¾ to 1¼ in., hairy below the bend. Used for thatching and fencing.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post and Zamarka); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Kulongo Jm, Jur Ghattas); Darfur Prov. (Kulme); Bahr El Jebel (Lat. 5° N.).

H. hirta Stapf. HAMERAI Arab.

Perennial grass up to 3 ft. high, densely tufted; leaf blades very narrow, from a few inches to 12 in. long. Spatheate panicle up to 12 in. long, racemes scanty and far apart. Spatheoles very narrow, reddish, tapering to a long fine point; racemes with white hairs. Awns up to 1 in. long, dark brown.

Nubia (J. Waratab; Wadi Arab, between Suakin and Berber); Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit, near Khor Ashat); Kordofan Prov. (Khor Abu Habl).

H. Barteri Stapf, var. calvescens Stapf.

Annual up to 1 ft. high. Leaves up to 1 ft. by 1/5 in. Spatheate panicle rather dense, with long slender branches bearing fan-shaped groups of spatheolate racemes. Awns 2 per raceme pair, up to over 2 in. long, shortly hairy.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Gigging).

H. Ruprechtii Fourn.

Perennial, up to 10 ft. high, forming dense clumps. Leaves very narrow and tapering. Spatheate panicle erect, narrow and interrupted, spatheoles narrow, pointed, up to 3 in. long, reddish; fertile spikelets over ¼ in. long, oblong. Awns about 3 in. long.

Used for thatching and fencing.

Bahr El Jebel (Shambe and Madi).

H. macrolepis Stapf.

Annual 5-8 ft. high. Inflorescence similar to H. Ruprechtii, but fertile spikelets larger (nearly ½ in. long), and awns up to 5 in. long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

H. pseudocymbaria Stapf. ANSORA (River Rahad)—Arab.

Annual up to over 3 ft. high, showy by reason of the boat-shaped spatheoles, which remain after maturity, and enclose the racemes; these spatheoles are vividly coloured from bright red to yellowish brown. Awns up to 2½ in. long with brown silky hairs.

Fung Prov. (Roseires and Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 7,500 ft. and Kulme, 3,600 ft.).

H. cymbaria Stapf.

Tall handsome grass, perennial, 6-20 ft. high; leaf blades very narrow. Spatheate panicle often very large and dense, spatheoles boat-shaped, coloured vivid red or purple, racemes protruding from the spatheoles; spikelets hairy, coloured green and purple; awns about ½ in. long.

Darfur (Jebel Marra, 8,000 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam land; Atasilli Brook).

H. variabilis Stapf.

Tall handsome perennial grass up to 10 ft. high. Inflorescence over 1 ft. long, narrow, fairly open, very similar to preceding, but peduncles rather larger (¼ in.) and sessile spikelets up to nearly ½ in. long, awns up to 1¼ in. long.

Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

H. confinis Anders.

Annual grass, 3 ft. and over high. Inflorescence long, very loose and open, more or less leafy. Spatheoles boat-shaped, up to 2 in. long, narrow and tapering. Peduncles about equalling the spatheoles. Awns up to 3 in. long, stout and twisted. The whole plant light reddish brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).

var. pellita Stapf. Leaves more rigid and narrower than in the type.

Kassala Prov. (Matamma, Gallabat).

H. macrarrhena Stapf.

Handsome annual grass about 3 ft. high. Inflorescence long, very open. Spatheoles purplish, up to 1½ in. long, narrow, boat-shaped; spikelets light yellow, hairy; peduncle much shorter than spatheoles. Awns stout, about 3 in. long. Joints of stem with a spreading beard.

Bahr El Ghazal (Bongo land).

H. diplandra Stapf.

Tall perennial, up to over 12 ft. high, densely tufted from a short rhizome. Spatheate panicle large, narrow, loose, often over 2 ft. long. Spatheoles very narrow, 1-1¼ in. long, edges finally inrolled, purplish or brown in colour. Long spikelets in tufts on long slender peduncles. Awns finely hairy, 1½-2½ in. long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas, Bongo, Tonj River); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

H. cornucopiæ Stapf.

Handsome grass, spatheate panicle leafy, very loose and open, up to 1 ft. high, spatheoles narrowly lanceolate, up to 3 in. long, purplish; axis of the racemes produced into a cup-like appendage nearly ½ in. long. Awn stout, up to 4½ in. long, very hairy with short brown hairs.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

867Monocymbium ceresiiforme Stapf.

Perennial grass 1-4 ft. high; leaves often very hairy. Inflorescence narrow, loose; racemes solitary, much reduced in size, enclosed in a larger coloured spatheole which is narrow and boat-shaped. Awns fine, up to ½ in. long, kneed at and twisted below the middle, not hairy.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo land, Gir & Jur land); Jur Ghattas.

868Heteropogon contortus Roem. & Schult.

Tufted perennial up to over 3 ft. high, leaves narrow, mostly growing from the base. Inflorescence a single slender terminal raceme, from 1½ to over 6 in. long. Spatheoles narrow, tapering, about ⅓ in. long, hairy. Awns, stout, kneed, 2 to over 4 in. long, dark brown, often twisted together.

This grass is known as Spear Grass. It frequently causes trouble to cattle and horses, as the sharp-pointed seeds stick in the mouth and penetrate the skin. It forms good hay if cut before it flowers.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra); Nuba Mts. Prov. (J. Ghulfan); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas and Niamniam land); Mongalla Prov. (Gemeiza).

869Themeda triandra Forsk.

Coarse perennial grass 1½-4 ft. high, tufted, often with a layer of withered fibres at the base. Inflorescence of scanty, scattered, spatheate panicles and long stalks, resembling tassels. Spatheoles narrow, purple or red, up to 2 in. long; spikelets much shorter, about ½ in., with long hairs; awns long, black, twisted, stout.

A valuable fodder grass.

Darfur Prov.

870Digitaria horizontalis Willd.

Annual grass, from one to several feet high; stems tufted, ascending from a bent, more or less prostrate base, hairy, up to ½ in. wide. Inflorescence of 4 to many racemes on a common axis (digitate), 1½-6 in. long, finely hairy. Spikelets continuous, pressed close to the axis, up to ½ in. long, awnless, lower glume reduced to a small, ovate, membranous scale; upper 3-nerved with lines of silky hairs between the hairs on the margins, axis with long, spreading, very fine glistening hairs.

A good fodder grass.

Red Sea Prov. (Lat. 21° N.; sea coast, to between 3,000 to 4,000 ft.); Fung Prov. (Bunzaga); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).

D. marginata Link.

Annual grass, 1 to over 2 ft. high. Leaves up to ⅓ in. broad, hairy. Racemes 4-9, digitate, consisting of small spikelets, appressed to the axils, rather larger than above, also upper glume more pointed.

Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

var. fimbriata Stapf. More silky than above.

Berber Prov.

var. nubica Stapf. Spikelets smooth, not hairy.

Halfa Prov.; Dongola Prov. (Between Old Dongola and Merowe); Berber and Khartoum Prov.

D. gayana Stapf.

Annual, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves with coarse pale hairs; racemes 2-6, digitate. Spikelets up to nearly ⅙ in. long, with a copious silvery or purplish lateral fringe of hairs, which is produced into a long brush-like point.

Kordofan Prov. (Um Marba).

D. xanthotricha Stapf.

Annual, 2-3 ft. high, smooth or sparingly hairy. Racemes two, one sessile, the other shortly peduncled, or 3-4 sessile, digitate. Spikelets with one transverse and two lateral fringes of brown coloured or reddish hairs.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

D. ternata Stapf.

Annual, stems ½-2 ft. long. Leaves sparingly hairy. Racemes 2-7, digitate, very slender, 2-6 in. long, with spikelets not so close as in preceding. Spikelets ½ in. long, ovate, hairy, hairs with thick walls and club-shaped tips, produced to form a short terminal tuft or beard.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

D. abyssinica Stapf.

Perennial grass with a long, slender, creeping, often branching rhizome; up to 1 ft. high. Leaves smooth, narrow, strongly ribbed. Racemes 2-9, at the apex of a common axis. Spikelets rather loose, elliptic acute, 1/12 in. long.

A bad weed.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River, Kagulu).

D. debilis Willd.

Annual, springing from a prostrate, branching and rooting base, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, small, upper 4 in. by ¼ in., lower 1 in. by ⅛ in. Racemes 5-11, digitate, pale green. Spikelets rather loose, up to ⅛ in. long, slender, very pointed, not hairy.

A good fodder grass.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli) Kordofan Prov.

D. pennata Chiov.

Bushy grass up to 3 ft. high (generally smaller), with a short rhizome producing tufts of fresh growths, covered at the base with white hairy scales. Stems very slender, wiry, producing barren branches from the lower, and tufted flowering branches from the upper joints. Racemes 6-10 in a whorl, very slender, up to 5 in. long, digitately arranged. Spikelets oval, about ⅛ in. long, in pairs, widely spaced, with long fine spreading hairs.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov.

D. uniglumis Stapf, var. major Stapf.

Tall perennial grass up to 10 ft. high. Leaves 2 ft. long and ½ in. wide. Inflorescence up to 2 ft. long, consisting of racemes (up to 10 in. long), gathered into a panicle. Spikelets small, rarely 1/12 in. long, oval, closely arranged, glossy chestnut brown in colour.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo; Gurfala; Niamniam-land, near Nganye by the Ibba River).

D. intecta Stapf.

Annual, up to 3 ft. high. Leaf sheath strongly ribbed, covered with short stiff hairs. Racemes 8-20, gathered into a brush-like panicle 5-8 in. long. Spikelets very small, about 1/20 in. long, beset with fine white hairs, glossy chestnut brown in colour.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Matamma).

871Alloteropsis semialata Hitchcock.

Perennial grass, compactly tufted on a short rhizome, with a thick basal coat of silky hairy leaf bases or their remains. Stems erect, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves strongly ribbed, very narrow. Inflorescence mostly of 2-3 racemes, occasionally one, sometimes 3-4, springing from the same joint, 1½-8 in. long. Axis wavy, triangular in section. Spikelets loosely arranged, tassel-like. Lower floret of papery texture, transparent, mottled with brown; upper with valve, produced into a fine bristle up to ⅛ in. long.