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).
828 =Mariscus[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)._
829 =Eleocharis 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).
830 =Fimbristylis 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).
831 =Bulbostylis 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).
832 =Scirpus 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).
833 =Fuirena 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).
834 =Lipocarpha 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).
835 =Ascolepis 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._
836 =Rhynchospora 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._
837 =Scleria 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._