This genus ought accordingly, in the sexual system, to take its place in Hexandria digynia, immediately after Oryza, it having been erroneonsly placed in the order monogynia; of this I shall have occasion to say more hereafter. With respect to its natural order, it belongs to the Gramineae, like the Oryza, Zizania and Pharus, with which it agrees in number of stamina,—a number unusual among the grasses.
As to the habit of the species in general, they approach particularly that of the Melicae, although quite different in the number and the disposition of the glumes.
The natural place of growth of this genus, as far as we yet know, is only near the southernmost part of Africa, commonly called the Cape of Good Hope.
As there are species with Arijice as well as without them, I have, thought it most convenient in the following scientific descriptions, to divide the Ehrhartae into Muticae and Arijiae.
- Mullca,
I. EHRHARTA mneraatea.
E. glumis corollinis exterioribus rugofis obtufis (muticis) ; panicula
fimplici laxa, culmo indivifo; foliorum margiae cartilagineo
crifpo. E. mnemattia, foliis vaginatis crifpis, corolla rugofa obtufa. thunh^
prodr.ji. Cap. p. 66. £. capetifts, A£l. Holm. i779,/>. 216. /. 8. Nova plant, gen. Up/. 1779^
Llnn.fuppJ. 209. Syji. not. ed. Gmel. I. p. 549. E. cartilaginea^ culmo indivifo, panicula fimplici, corolla exteriore
retufa fubmutica, fohorum margine cartilagineo-crifpo. Smhb icon, plant, ined. II. /. 32. £. nutans. Lamarck encycl.fp. k
