Chapter XVII: Part 17

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

839 =Eriospora 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=

840 =Zea 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.

841 =Ischæmum 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.

842 =Thelepogon 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.).

843 =Sehima 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).

844 =Vossia 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.

845 =Jardinea 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).

846 =Manisuris 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).

847 =Lasiurus 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).

848 =Elyonurus 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).

849 =Rottbœllia 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).

850 =Ophiurus 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).

851 =Chasmopodium 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).

852 =Rhytachne 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.).

853 =Imperata 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).

854 =Saccharum 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).

855 =Sorghum 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).

856 =Vetiveria 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).

857 =Chrysopogon 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.).

858 =Eremopogon 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.).

859 =Arthraxon 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).

860 =Amphilophis 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).

861 =Dichanthium 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).

862 =Schizachyrium 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).

863 =Diectomis 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.).

864 =Andropogon 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).

865 =Cymbopogon 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.

866 =Hyparrhenia 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).

867 =Monocymbium 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.

868 =Heteropogon 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).

869 =Themeda 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.

870 =Digitaria 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).

871 =Alloteropsis 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.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat, Gendua River).

872 =Eriochloa acrotricha= _Hack._

Tufted annual. Stems leafy, ½ to over 2 ft. long. Inflorescence a narrow panicle 1½-4 in. long with a few, or up to 10, racemes widely spaced on the same axis. Spikelets in 2 series, dorsally compressed; lower glume rudimentary, forming with the base of the stalk a bead-like process, oval pointed, with a fine bristle, up to ⅙ in. long.

Nubia, Red Sea Prov. (Sinkat); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf).

873 =Brachiaria dictyoneura= _Stapf._

Perennial 1½-3 ft. high, leaves narrow, sheathing the flower stalk. Inflorescence consisting of 3-6 widely spaced spike-like racemes, having the spikelets arranged on one side. Racemes dense, about 2 in. long; spikelets largish, 1/5 in. long, oval, silkily hairy, often flushed with purple, lower glume present, almost as long as the spikelet, 11-nerved.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.

=B. fulva= _Stapf._

Perennial up to 3 ft. high. Leaves narrow. Inflorescence of a similar type to above, but racemes 4-12, closer spaced, 1¾ in. long, arched, with reddish or yellowish hairs. Spikelets densely hairy, closely arranged, about ⅛ in. long, oval.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur. Agada, Bongo land, Matia Addai); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=B. stigmatisata= _Stapf._

Annual, over 2 ft. high, ascending from a leafy base. Leaves broad, narrowly oval with crisped spiny margins, from 1 to over 7 in. long by ¼-½ in. wide. Inflorescence of 1-3 spike-like racemes, widely spaced on a common axis, ¾-2 in. long. Racemes dense, 1-2½ in. long; spikelets closely arranged, 1/16 to 1/5 in. long, not hairy, prominently nerved, pale yellowish.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

=B. mutica= _Stapf._

Perennial grass 3-6 ft. high (occasionally 8 ft.). Leaves smooth, narrow, hairy on the sheaths. Inflorescence 4-8 in. long, consisting of numerous, sometimes paired racemes 1-3 in. long. Spikelets about ⅛ in. long, almost touching, oval; stigmas blackish purple, very conspicuous.

A valuable fodder grass.