Part 34
Tall shrub with slender branchlets. Leaves oblong, cuspidate, 3-6 in. long; sheaths 2-4 in. long. Infl. terminal, simple; bracts oblong- lanceolate, 1 in. long, enclosing pairs of whitish flowers, 1 in. long; sep. 3, lanceolate, ½ in. long; pet. 3, connate at base; staminodes connate, 1 in. long; lip broad obliquely crested; sta. ligulate, anther adnate, 1-celled.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River); Mongalla Prov. (Lado); Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: Mbrwole & Atassili Brook).
=MUSACEÆ.=
801 =Musa Schweinfurthii= _K. Schum._ et _Warb._ Niamnian-land.
=M. Ensete= _Gmel._ BOGGUMBOLI or BOO—Zande.
Plant 30-40 ft. high with a stem ventricose at base and a plume of leaves up to 20 ft. long and 3 ft. broad. Fl. in terminal spicate panicles, unisexual; peduncle short; flowering panicle short; bracts densely imbricate, dark-brown, the lower 1 ft. long, 4-5 in. broad. Fl. whitish 1½-2 in. long, in 2 dense rows, each of up to 20 flowers. Fruit 2-3 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
=M. paradisiaca= _Linn._ =subsp. sapientum= _O. Ktze._ SHAGAR EL MUZ—Arab; FATH—Nuer; BEDIGAWA (tall plant with long triangular fruit), BIRA (medium-sized) & TINGI-TINGI (dwarf plant)—Zande. The Banana Plant.
Cultivated.
=ORCHIDACEÆ.=
802 =Microstylis sp.=
Herb about 6 in. high. Leaves 2 or 3, ovate, acute, 2-3 in. long, 1-1½ in. broad, 5-nerved at the base. Peduncle with 3 or 4 bracts. Flowers subcapitate, flesh-coloured, transparent. Lip bilobed, slightly fringed, ⅙ in. broad.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District: Ngoi).
803 =Megaclinium sp.=
Epiphyte on tree trunks. Pseudobulbs sessile in the axil, 2 in. long. Leaves lanceolate, emarginate, 4 in. long, 1 in. broad. Inflorescence about 1 ft. long. Rhachis 8 in. long, ⅓ in. broad. Flowers sessile, about 30 in each inflorescence.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District).
804 =Eulophia lutea= _Lindl._
Ground orchid with corm.-like base. Leaves distichous, usually plicate, linear to elliptic-lanceolate. Fl. scapes ab. 1 ft. long; racemes lax; bracts lanceolate, ¼ in. long; 3 sepals and 2 yellow petals ¼ in. long; lip oblong, 3-lobed; spur oblong 1/10 in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District; Kagulu Khor).
=E. baginsensis= _Reichb. f._
Ground orchid with conical pseudobulbs. Leaves ensiform 1-2 ft. long, 2 in. broad, crenulate. Scape 3 ft. high, panicled above; bracts ovate lanceolate ¼ in. long. Sep. 3 and pet. 2 (as in all this family, excluding the lip); lip oblong, 3-lobed; front lobe rhomboid 3-many- toothed; spur shorter than ovary.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
=E. stachyodes= _Reichb. f._
Ground orchid. Leaves lanceolate-acuminate, 5-10 in. long, appearing after the fl. Scapes 2 ft. high; racemes 6 in. long, many flowered; bracts lanceolate, ¾ in. long, green and purple; pet. white, ¾ in. long; lip white with maroon streaks, 3-lobed; spur curved, 1/10 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Yubbo River); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District: Ngoi); Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land).
=E. flavopurpurea= _Rolfe._
Ground orchid. Leaves elongate-linear, under ½ in. broad. Scape 2¼ ft. high; raceme 1 ft. long, few-flowered; petals yellowish-green, ¾ in. long; lip ligulate, 3-fid, striped purple; spur retrose, yellow at apex, small.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
=E. Woodfordii= _Rolfe._
Ground orchid with tuberous rhizome. Leaves lanceolate, 8-18 in. long, tapering to sheathing petiole. Scapes up to 3 ft. high; racemes 6-15 in. long with many greenish and light lilac flowers; sep. ¾ in. long, pet. a little shorter; lip ¾ in. long, somewhat trilobed, with 4 tubercles; spur broadly saccate.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District: Allumas).
=E. Schweinfurthii= _Kraenzl._
Ground orchid. Leaves elongate-linear. Scapes 2 ft. high; racemes few- flowered; sep. ¼ in. long, orbicular; pet. ¼ in. long, ligulate; lip 3-lobed, 3-ridged; spur stout, conical.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land).
=E. guineensis= _Lindl._
Terrestrial orchid, with large conical pseudobulbs. Leaves lanceolate- or obovate-oblong, 4-12 in. long; pet. ½-5 in. long. Scapes 2-3 ft. long; racemes 8-12 in. long, many-flowered; sep. and pet. 1-1½ in. long, brown; lip pink, ovate; spur ¾-1 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land & Niamniam-land).
=E. sp. near E. Zeyheri= _Sond._
Erect herb about 1½ ft. high. Leaves not seen. Flowers few, beautiful light yellow with brown lip.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei, Ngoi).
805 =Lissochilus pyrophilus= _Reichb._
In this genus all are terrestrial herbs with elongate lanceolate or linear, plicate leaves, rising from a creeping rhizome. In this sp.: scape 18 in. high; racemes 6-10 in. laxly many flowered; fl. brown, sep. and pet. ¼ in. long; lip 1/5 in. long, 3-lobed; spur minute.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Kuraggera).
=L. paludicolus= _Reichb. f._
Leaves 1½-2 ft. long, ½ in. broad. Scape 3 ft. long; raceme 10 in. long, laxly many yellow-flowered; sep. and pet. ½ in. long; lip obscurely 3-lobed, with 3 crenulate ridges; spur saccate, ¼ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ibba River); Bahr El Jebel.
=L. Millsonii= _Rolfe._
Scape 2-2½ ft. long; raceme 6-8 in. long; sep. and pet. ab. 1 in. long, cream-coloured; lip chocolate-coloured 3-lobed, with 5-9 crenulate ridges; spur ab. ⅙ in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Kagulu).
=L. purpuratus= _Lindl._
Leaves 1-2 ft. long. Scape 3-4 ft. and raceme 9-12 in. long, many flowered. Sep. and pet. faint-pink, ¾ in. long, petals broader; lip 3-lobed, side lobes purplish brown, front lobe lilac with 2-4 darker crenulate ridges; spur conical, 1/5 in. long, pink.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshook Ali, Dar Fertit: Biselli, Niamniam- land); Mongalla Prov. (Bor).
=L. arenarius= _Lindl._
Leaves 1-1½ ft. long, ½ in. broad, appearing after flowers. Scapes 2-3 ft. high, racemes 4-8 in., 6-10 flowers. Fl. purple with greenish sepals; sep. ¾-1¼ in. long, lanceolate; pet. same length, broad- elliptic; lip ab. same length; broadly pandurate 3-lobed, with thickened crenulate median nerve; spur ab. ⅓ in. long, yellow inside.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=L. Roscheri= _Reichb. f._
Fl. small lilac, probably a small form of above.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Bongo: Gafal River).
=L. porphyroglossus= _Reichb. f._
Leaves long petioled, 3½ ft. long, 1¾ in. broad. Scapes tall; racemes 1 ft. long, many-flowered; sep. lanceolate, 1 in. long; pet. suborbicular, ab. 1 in., pale lilac: lip 3-lobed, 1¼ in. long, purple with 3-5 crenulate ridges; spur ⅓ in. conical.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Hoo River).
=L. Schweinfurthii= _Reichb. f._
Leaves 18 in. or more. Scapes tall, racemes 1 ft., many-flowered; sep. ovate-oblong, 1 in.; pet. suborbicular, slightly longer; lip suborbicular, undulate, 1 in. long, with 3, dividing into 5, ridges; spur ⅓ in. conical, curved.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Tuhami’s Zariba).
=L. orthoplectrus= _Reichb. f._
Scape 2 ft. high; raceme lax many-flowered. Fl. brown, striped with purple. Sep. triangular; pet. elliptical, ab. ½ in.; lip 3-lobed, front lobe ligulate, 5-ridged; spur conical, straight, ab. ¼ in.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: north of Uzze River).
=L. Wakefieldii= _Reichb. f._ & _S. Moore._
Leaves 4-5, about 12 in. long. Scapes 2-4 ft. long; raceme ab. 1 ft., laxly many-flowered; sep. ovate-oblong, ⅓ in. long, green; pet. broad- ovate, ¾ in. bright yellow; lip pandurate-oblong, ¾ in. long with 3-yellow ridges, spur conical, ab. ¼ in.
Mongalla Prov. (Bor to Gameiza).
806 =Tridactyle filifolia= _Schlechter._
Epiphyte on rocks or trees. Stems terete, jointed, rugose. Leaves very few, linear-acicular, acute, about 3½ in. long, glabrous. Flowers white, with a slender spur ¼ in. long.
Lado: Rocks at Asugi (_Sillitoe_ 146).
807 =Angræcum kotschyanum= _Reichb. f._
Epiphyte, 3-6 leaved. Leaves distichous obovate-oblong 2-5 in. long. Racemes pendulous 9-15 in. long, many-flowered; sep. elliptic- lanceolate, ½-1 in.; petals slightly smaller; lip pandurate ½-1 in. long; spur curved 5-8 in. long.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli: near Kamamil); Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
=A. sp.=
Epiphyte on _Landolphia owariensis_ and other trees; roots very numerous, straw-coloured, up to about 8 in. long. Leaves oblanceolate, 6 in. long, with about 30 nerves. Flowers not seen.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Chak-Chak & W. of Pongo River).
808 =Corymbis corymbosa= _Thou._
Tall ground orchid; stem leafy. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, sheathing, 7-9 in. long. Panicles axillary; fl. large white; sep. and pet. narrow below, somewhat dilated above; lip erect, linear, channelled, apex recurved.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
809 =Nervilia Kotschyi= _Schlechter._
Terrestrial herb; rhizome tuberiferous. Leaves appearing after flowers, variable in shape. Fl. racemose; sep and pet. ligulate, greenish; lip white, oblong-flabellate, trifid at apex.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).
810 =Habenaria njamnjamica= _Kränzl._
Terrestrial herb. Leaves 3-4, oblong or lanceolate, ab. 1 in. long, sheathing. Racemes elongate 7 in. long; bracts ovate, longer than fl.; dorsal sep., oblong, ¼ in. long, lateral sep. deflexed; pet. bipartite, lobes linear-falcate; lip 3-partite, ⅓ in. long; spur inflated ⅓ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
=H. armatissima= _Reichb. f._
Tuber large, over 1½ in. long; leaves 2, subopposite, basal ovate- orbicular, 3-4 in. long, 4-5 in. broad; bracts ovate, acuminate, ¾ in. long; flowers white.
=H. Bongensium= _Reichb. f._
Ground orchid, growing in grass in moist places, 1 ft. high. Leaves 5-10, ovate-lanceolate, cauline, 1-2½ in. long. Scape 1 ft. high; raceme 6 in. dense; bracts lanceolate, ½ in.; dorsal sep. elliptic, lateral oblong 3-nerved; pet. 2-partite, one lobe very small; lip 3-partite, median lobe much longer; spur curved ab. ⅓ in.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land, J. Ghattas).
=H. Walleri= _Reichb. f._
Tall ground orchid with brilliant green foliage (Sillitoe), upper leaves oblong-linear reduced. Racemes with 4 large white fl. on 3-4 in. long pedicels; bracts ovate, ab. 1½ in. long; dorsal sep. ovate, hooded, ½ in. long, lateral elliptic-oblong, ¾ in.; pet. 2-partite; lip 3-lobed, side-lobes 1 in. long, front lobes shorter; spurs 3-4 in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=H. cirrhata= _Reichb. f._
Ground orchid with 2 in. long, oblong tuber and 3 in. stem. Leaves 4-5, suborbicular, 2-3 in. long. Racemes few-flowered; bracts oblong, 2 in. long; fl. large, white, vanilla-scented; dorsal sep. oblong, ½ in. lateral deflexed, ¾ in.; pet. 2-partite, posterior lobe linear, 1 in., anterior filiform, 3-4 in. long; lip 3-partite, lobes filiform, ab. 1 in. long; spur 5-8 in. long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, among bushes).
=H. sp.=
Herb, about 1 ft. high, with two suborbicular leaves at the base. Bracts large and membranous, about 1½ in. long, venose. Spurs very slender, about 4 in. long.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River), Sillitoe 140.
811 =Brachycorythis hispidula= _Schltr._
Densely leafy, velvety ground orchid, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate decreasing from ab. 1 in. to lanceolate, ½-1 in. long bracts. Racemes 3-8 in. long; fl. dense white and purple; dorsal sep. elliptic-oblong, ¼ in., lateral broader, oblique; pet. ovate, ¼ in. long; lip 3-lobed ⅓ in. long, front lobe shorter, broadly triangular.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River District: Asugi & Ngoi).
=B. Schweinfurthii= _Reichb. f._
Leafy ground orchid, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves 2-3 in. long, imbricate, cuneate, ligulate. Infl. spicate or racemose, dense, 6 in. long; bracts linear-lanceolate, about as long as the purple flowers; dorsal sep. elliptic, lateral axe-shaped; pet. oblong, incurved; lip 3-lobed, side lobe semi-lunate, front lobe triangular, minute; spur obtuse-angled.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: on Steppes).
=B. grandis, var. sudanica= _Braid._
Erect herb, 2 ft. high; leafy from base. Leaves lanceolate, very acute, 2 in. long, ½ in. broad, 3-nerved, glabrous. Flowers pale pink. Spur very short.
Mongalla Prov. (Lado Dist.: Doka’s).
812 =Bonatea sudanensis= _Rolfe._
Cauline leaves sessile, elliptic-oblong, 2½-4½ in. long, 1¼ in. broad. Racemes 5-flowered; bracts 3 cm. long. Pedicel and ovary 2 in. long. Spur 4 in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit).
813 =Platycoryne crocea= _Rolfe._
Slender ground orchid, 1 ft. high. Leaves ab. 7, cauline, lanceolate, ab. 1 in. long. Racemes 3-4 flowered, short; bracts ovate-oblong, ¼-½ in.; fl. orange-buff; lateral sep. and petals ovate-oblong, 1/5 in. long; dorsal sep. ovate, hooded; lip 3-lobed, side lobes minute, front lobe 1/5 in.; spur over ½ in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: south of the Lessi River).
=PALMÆ.=
814 =Phœnix dactylifera= _Linn._ NAKHLA—Arab. The Date Palm.
Cultivated, especially in the Northern parts of the Sudan, for its fruit, which is called BALAH or TAMR by Arabs.
The timber is used for beams and posts; mats, fans, baskets and ropes are made from the leaves and crates and baskets from the petioles. The tree yields a gum which is considered a useful remedy for diarrhœa. A perfume is obtained by distillation, from the spathes. Date sugar can be obtained from the juice tapped from the stem, but at the expense of the fruit crop. (Male DAKAR, female NITAYA, green date DUFFEIG or ROTAB, leave stalk GEREIDAH, spathe AF, male flowers ARGUN, female ZABATA, seed NAWA)—Arab.
=P. reclinata= _Jacq._ KINGE—Zande.
Much like a small date palm; stems 3-5 ft. high; leaves 2-5 ft. long, midrib white-woolly underneath.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Genana & Jur Ghattas, near Tonj & Southern B. El Ghazal).
Fruit edible, leaves used for hats, mats, etc., and the trunk for building.
815 =Raphia Monbuttorum= _Drude._ NAKHL EL FARAUN—Arab.
Acaulescent, or stem up to 5 ft. long, densely annulate; leaves in a terminal crown, large, pinnatisect. Infl. monœcious; spadices branched, large, pendulous, cylindrical, branches and branchlets compressed, the latter pectinately arranged; fl. solitary in cup-shaped bracts, male at base and fem. above.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Okale).
The stalks of the leaves, oval in section and 2 in. by 1 in. thick, are used as carrying poles.
816 =Calamus Barteri= _Becc._
Climbing palm, up to 50 ft. high; stem ab. 1 in. thick. Leaves distant, equally pinnate, margins, midrib and nerves of leaflets spinosely hairy, sheaths also spiny. Spadix polygamous diœcious, branched, each branch bearing 30-40 fl.; bracteoles of male fl. with 2 wing-like keels.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Khor Tela).
=C. sp.?= PODO (the fruit)—Zande.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (South).
817 =Ancistrophyllum Schweinfurthii= _Mann_ & _Wendl._
Climbing palm up to 60 ft. high. Leaves 12-14 ft. long, equally pinnate, midrib gradually tapering to a whip-like, sometimes spiny tendril, 5-6 ft. long; pet., sheaths and spaces between leaflets spinous. Fl. hermaphrodite.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Mansilli Brook).
818 =Borassus flabellifer= _Linn._ =var. æthiopum= _Warburg._ DELEIB—Arab; GAGGIAM (the small tree) & DAGGĀT (full grown tree) (Dilling) GIĀT (J. Ghulfan) & MUNLI (J. Eliri)—Nuba; INJIR—Bari; TUK (Bahr El Jebel)—Dinka & Jur; DALANZE—Golo; NURR—Nuer; OKWA—Zande.
Tall, erect, usually unbranched palm, up to 60-70 ft. high; stem robust annulate, thickened above the middle. Leaves fan-shaped, broader than long, in a terminal crown. Infl. diœcious. Drupe obscurely 3-angled, smooth, orange-coloured, with a fibrous epicarp.
Southern Sudan.
Almost every part of this palm is put to some use. The fibres from the leaves and leaf-stalks are used for rope making; the leaves for thatching; the pericarp of the fruit is edible, and the kernel itself is eaten when young. The wood is heavy, hard and durable, and is useful for building, canoes, water-pipes, etc. From the unopen spathes a sap is drawn which when fresh is sweet and when boiled down yields Date Sugar or Jaggery, it quickly ferments, and gives a raw spirit called toddy. The root tip as it emerges from the germinating seed is eaten as a vegetable.
819 =Hyphæne thebaica= _Mart._ DOM—Arab; ANDO (J. Daier), KARIAI (J. Eliri) & AMURTE (J. Ghulfan)—Nuba; GORA—Hameg; KEIR & TUNUSHO—Bari; NIAT (Kaka) & TAAM—Dinka; DAYA & LEL—Nuer; KAYU—Shilluk; TAANG—Burun. The Dom Palm.
Tree up to 50 ft. high; stems branching dichotomously. Leaves 20-30 in a terminal crown on each branch, fan-shaped; petiole sheathing at base, spiny on margins. Fruit 3 in. long, obliquely ovoid, obscurely 3-angled.
Usually near running water, throughout the Sudan; Nubia; Dongola Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; White Nile Prov.
The leaves are made into mats and their fibre is used for rope-making. The pulp round the seeds is insipid but is eaten. The kernels give a vegetable ivory. The timber is strong and is used for posts and beams.
820 =Medemia Argun= _P.G. von Württemburg._ DOM—Arab.
Tree with undivided stems and fan-shaped leaves. Fruit ellipsoid, dull brown, 1 5/6 in. long.
Nubia (Wadi Delah, near Murrat wells in the Great Nubian Desert, between Korosko & Abu Hamed); Halfa Prov. (Upper reaches of Wadi Gebgaba, Lat. 21° 45′ N. & Long. 33° E.); Kordofan Prov. (20-21° Lat. N.).
The leaves yield a strong fibre.
=M. abiadensis= _Wendl._
Much as above; fruit ellipsoid, bright brown, 1½ in. long. On the White Nile.
821 =Elæis guineensis= _Jacq._ The Oil Palm.
Erect palm; stem 20-30 ft. high, annulate, bearing remains of old leaves. Leaves many in a terminal crown, 10-15 ft. long; pet. 4 ft. long, spiny on margins; leaflets 18 in. or more long. Fruit ovoid, umbilicate at apex, 1-3 seeded.
White Nile; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau).
Introduced. Not cultivated to any extent in the Sudan at present.
=PANDANACEÆ.=
822 =Pandanus sp.=
Leaves sword-like, sharply toothed, probably about 4 ft. long, thick and leathery. Flowers not seen.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: Diagbe River).
=ERIOCAULACEÆ.=
823 =Eriocaulon bifistulosum= _Van Heurck_ & _Muell. Arg._
Aquatic herb; stem elongated, densely leafy above. Leaves filiform, 1-3½ in. long. Ped. numerous, 1½-5 in. long, with sheaths, ab. 1 in. long, obtuse or bifid at apex. Fl. minute, in globose-depressed brownish monœcious heads, ⅙ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit: Biri River; Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=E. bongense= _Engl._ & _Ruhland._
Stemless aquatic herb. Leaves radical, linear, 1½-3 in. long. Ped. 5-16 to a plant, 3-12 in. long; sheaths 1-3½ in. long, rather loose. Heads light straw-coloured, subglobose, ab. ⅓ in. diam.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Agaza River near Jur Ghattas; Bongo: at Bulu near Sabbi).
=E. elegantulum= _Engl._
Stemless aquatic or marsh herb. Leaves 4-10, linear, ⅓-3 in. long. Ped. 2-16, acutely 3-4 angled, 1-8 in. long; sheaths ⅓-3 in. long, inflated. Heads ab. ⅙ in. diam., globose; male fl. usually central, greyish-white; fem. brown.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=CYPERACEÆ (Sedges).[5]=
(_i_) _Empty glumes at base of spikelet 1-2; fertile glumes 1 to many, distichous; hypogynous bristles or scales 0; infl. umbellate or capitate; fl. hermaphrodite._
(_a_) _Style 2-branched._
824 =Kyllinga erecta= _Schum._ & _Thonn._
Glabrous herb; rhizome creeping, up to 8 in. long; stems more or less distant, nodeless. Leaves close to base of stem and up to half its length, ⅛ in. broad. Head of 1 spike, ¼-⅓ in. diam., ovoid, dense, golden tinged; bracts 3-4, up to 3 in. long; spikelets with 1 fertile glume, which is not winged; nut yellow-brown, turning black.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei R.).
=K. melanosperma= _Nees._
Glabrous herb; rhizome thick, ½-1½ in. long; stems 20-30 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves up to 6 in. long, ⅙ in. broad. Head of 1 spike, ⅓ in. long, ovoid; bracts 3-4, up to 4 in. long; spikelets with 1 fertile, not winged glume; nut black.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
=K. crassipes= _Boeck._
Rhizome short; stems 4-8 in. long. Leaves up to 9 in. long. Heads of 1-3 spikes, pale brown; bracts 4-5, up to 9 in. long; spikelets with 1 fertile glume, which is not winged, but has sunk red glands.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Atwot District).
=K. pungens= _Link._
Rhizome thick, brown-scaly; stem 8-18 in. long. Leaves under 9 in. long. Head of 1 spike, subglobose, ¼-⅓ in. diam.; bracts 4-5, 1-4 in. long; fertile glume 1, not winged; nut black.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Matju River).
=K. triceps= _Rottb._
Stems sub-bulbous at base, tufted, 2-12 in. long. Leaves up to 12 in. long. Heads of usually 3, sometimes 1 spike, white or green, 1/5-⅓ in. long; bracts 3-4, up to 3 in. long; fertile glume in spikelet 1, sometimes red gland-dotted; nuts yellow-brown.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba & Jur Ghattas).
=K. squamulata= _Vahl._
Root fibrous; stems tufted. Leaves as long as stem. Head green to brown, globose, usually of 1 spike, ⅓ in. diam.; bracts 3, up to 4 in. long; spikelets numerous; fertile glume 1 with a toothed winged keel; nuts dull-brown.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid & J. Kurbaj); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=K. controversa= _Steud._ =var. subexalata= _C. B. Clarke._
Roots, stems and leaves as above, but sheaths of last much torn. Head globose of usually 3 spikes; bracts 3-4, up to 6 in. long; spikelets numerous; fertile glume 1, keel with narrow ciliate wing.
Kordofan Prov. (J. Kurbaj).
=K. polyphylla= _Willd._
Rhizome short, thick; stems 10-20 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves up to ab. 1 ft. long. Head of 1, sometimes 3, orange-green spikes; bracts 5-8, sometimes over 4 in. long; spikes ⅓ in. diam., ovoid; fertile glume in spikelet 1, wingless; nuts red-brown.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=K. sphærocephala= _Boeck._
Rhizome slender; stems 1 ft. long, slender. Leaves up to 8 in. long. Head pale cinnamon-coloured, globose, ¼ in. diam.; spike 1; bracts 2-3, up to 2 in. long; spikelets with 1, 4-ribbed fertile glume; nut yellow- brown.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=K. pumila= _Mich._
Roots fibrous; stems tufted, 4-18 in. long, slender; sheaths reddish. Leaves up to ab. 1 ft. long. Head green or greenish-white; spikes 1-3, middle spike ab. ⅓ in. long; bracts 2-4, 2-6 in. long; spikelets dense; fertile glume 1, rarely 2, not winged; nut yellow-brown.
Nubia; Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).
825 =Pycreus flavescens= _Nees._
Annual; stems 1-12 in. long. Leaves up to 8 in., crowded close to the base. Spikes 1 or more, loosely umbelled, of 3-12 clustered ebracteolate spikelets; bracts 2-4, overtopping umbel; spikelets straw-coloured, red- tinged; fertile glumes 8-36, boat-shaped; nuts whitish, laterally compressed.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Kordofan Prov. (Rahad); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Main River: Nuer country; Bongo: Addai).
=P. Mundtii= _Nees._ UMTUGG (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Stems 8-24 in. long, decumbent and rooting at base and clothed with leaf-sheaths up to ¾ of its length. Leaves 4-10 in. long. Spikes usually in many-rayed simple umbels, rarely subcompound or 1 spike only, bearing 3-8 ebracteolate spikelets; bracts 4 to many, overtopping the umbel; spikelets containing 12-16 fertile glumes, brown; nuts biconvex, dotted.
Khartoum Prov.; North Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: Kallokitting 4,000 ft.); Upper White Nile Prov. (mouth of Sobat River & Khor Attar); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (mouth of Bahr El Arab); Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).
=P. nitens= _Nees._
Annual; stems tufted up to 12 in. long. Leaves ab. same length. Umbels simple; spikes 1-6; bracts 3-6, ½-6 in. long; spikelets straw-coloured, 5-30 per spike; fertile glumes 8-44, boat-shaped; nuts pale-brown, laterally compressed.
Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad).
=P. polystachyos= _P. Beauv._
Roots fibrous; stems tufted, 12-30 in. long. Leaves basal, up to length of stem. Umbels usually compound of 1-7 rays; spikes of 10-50 ebracteolate spikelets; bracts 3-6, 4-12 in. long; fertile glumes in spikelet 20-50; straw-coloured or reddish; nut brown.
=var. laxiflora= _Benth._
Spikes open, subcorymbose or umbellate; spikelets subsolitary.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=P. globosus= _Reichb._ =var. nilagirica= _C. B. Clarke._
Annual or biennial; stems tufted, 1-2 ft. long. Leaves up to 16 in. long. Umbels 1-6 in. diam., simple or compound or 1 compound head, bracts 3-5, lowest overtopping inflorescence; spikelets up to ¾ in. long, compressed, dark-brown; fertile glumes 8-30; nuts blackish.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei R.).
=P. propinquus= _Nees._
Stems and leaves 12-18 in. long. Spikes 10-16 in 1 compound, pale-yellow head; bracts 3, 3-7 in. long; spikelets ½ in. long; fertile glumes 20-36, slightly inflated; nuts red-brown.
Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).
=P. capillifolius= _C. B. Clarke._
Annual; stems tufted, very slender, 4-8 in. long. Leaves same length, almost hair-like. Head 1, lateral, of 4-18 ebracteolate spikelets which are ½-¾ in. long and have 10-30 fertile, pale-yellow inflated glumes; bracts 2, 1-2½ in. long; nut black, smooth, half the length of glume.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).
=P. elegantulus= _C. B. Clarke._
Annual; stems 8-28 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, narrow. Umbel of 1-7 dense, compound spikes, each of 5-30 dense spikelets or by congestion forming a mass of 80 spikelets or more; bracts 3-5, 3-9 in. long; spikelets up to ⅔ in. long, ebracteolate, 6-16 fld.; glumes not overlapping in fruit, dark-brown with green keel; nut obovoid, ab. ½ length of glume; style short.
Between Khartoum & Shendi.
=P. umbrosus= _Nees._