The genera of South African plants : arranged according to the natural system / by William Henry Harvey.

  • William H. Harvey
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The genera of South African plants : arranged according to the natural system / by William Henry Harvey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nor callous at base. Outer glumes 2, both empty. Plowering glume concave, of a firmer texture. Palea like the floAveriug glume, but smaller aud 2-uerved. Grraiu enclosed in the hardened palea and flowering glume.—Nees, 1. c. p. 15 ; Benth. FI. Honqk. p. 408. Grasses of variable habits.—1 Cape species. 2. TRAGUS, Hall. Spikclets racemose, 2-5 on common short pedicels, 1- fiowered. Outer glumes 2; the lower minute, flat, thinly membranous ; the upper (a barren flower, Jide Nees) concave, cartilaginous, in the lowest spikelets covered with hard, rough jmiuts. Flowering glume and palea oblong, acute, papery- membranous, concave, the flowering glume embracing the sliorter, 2-nerved palea. Grain oblong, glabrous, enclosed in the flowering glume and palea.—Lappago, Schreb.; Kunth, Enum. i. p. 169 ; Nees, 1. c. p. 72. Smull, rigid grasses, with annual roots.—1 or 2 species. 3. PANICUM, Linn. S|)ikelets either in slender unilateral spikes or in close- cylindrical or dillusely-brauched panicles, 1-2-flowercd; the lower flowers, when present, male. Glumes always 4, the lowest small or very small, empty ; the next larger and empty; the third empty or with an imperfect or male flower; the innermost or flowering glume of a firmer texture, more faintly nerved. Palea like the flowering glume, but smaller and 2- nerved. Grain enclosed in the hardened floweriug glume aud ])alca.—Nees, 1. c. p. 20 ; also Oplismenus, 1. e. p. 60 ; Benih. FI. Jlongh. p. 409. A vast genus, chiefly tropical; several yield food for man.—40 or 42 Capo species, chiefly on or beyond the Eastern frontier. 4. STENOTAPHRUM, Trim Spikelets in spikes, 2 or more inserted in alternate hollows along a broad, flattened, unjointed rachis, 2-flowered. Outer glumes 2, the lower smaller. Lower flower male ; upper her- maphrodite or female. Flowering glume and palea coriaceous, the former concave, enclosing and clasping the latter. Grain free, glabrous.—Nees, l.e. p. 62. 1 Cape species. 5. BLUFPIA, Nees. Spikelets in digitate racemes, 2-flowered, with a rudimentary third flower. Outer glumes 2, membranous-herbaceous, su-