TRIBE IV--ANDROPOGONEAE.
Andropogoneae is a very large tribe with about thirty genera. It is very
well represented in South India and some genera are of very wide
distribution.
The spikelets are usually arranged in pairs at each joint, one sessile
and the other stalked. The spikelets may all be similar as in Imperata
or they may be different as in Ischaemum and Andropogon. There may be
only one flower in the spikelet as in Eremochloa and Saccharum or two as
in Ischaemum and Apocopis. In the genera Polytoca and Coix the spikelets
are unisexual and the male and female spikelets are found in the same
inflorescence, the female being below and the male being continuous with
it. The spikelet nearly always consists of four glumes, the first or the
first and the second being firmer and coriaceous or chartaceous. The
flowering glumes are always shorter than the empty glumes, and are
hyaline. The fourth glume is often awned or reduced to an awn.
The main rachis of the inflorescence is usually jointed at the base. In
addition to this the rachis may be jointed all along its length, so as
to become separated into distinct joints when mature as in Rottboellia,
Saccharum and Andropogon, or it may be continuous as in Imperata. The
pedicels of spikelets and the lower portions of the rachilla of the
spikelets may have long hairs.
Sub. Tribe 1. =Maydeae.=
The spikelets are all unisexual, spicate, the male
and female spikelets are dissimilar, and are on the
same or on different spikes.
Fruiting spikelets enclosed in a stony nut-like
polished bract 16. Coix.
Fruiting spikelets with the first glume
forming a crustaceous nut-like envelope
to other glumes and grain 17. Polytoca.
Sub. Tribe 2. =Sacchareae.=
The spikelets are all similar, in compound racemes
or panicles; the first glume not sunk in the
hollow of the rachis. Spikelets are 1-flowered.
Rachis not fragile; spikelets in cylindrical
silvery thyrsus 18. Imperata.
Rachis fragile; spikelets in open very much
branched silky panicles 19. Saccharum.
Sub. Tribe 3. =Ischemeae.=
Spikelets many, dissimilar, in solitary, digitate
or fascicled racemes or spikes; first glume not
sunk in the hollow of the rachis.
Margins of the first glume of the sessile spikelet
inflexed.
Spikes rarely solitary; spikelets binate,
2-flowered and awned 20. Ischaemum.
Spikes solitary; spikelets 1-flowered; first
glume of the sessile spikelet pectinate 21. Eremochloa.
Margins of the first glume of the sessile spikelet
not inflexed.
Spikes solitary or binate; spikelets 1- to
2-flowered, diandrous; first glume broad
and truncate 22. Apocopis.
Spikes 2 or more; spikelets binate, upper
alone awned 23. Lophopogon.
Sub. Tribe 4. =Apludeae.=
Spikelets three on an inarticulate rachis 24. Apluda.
Sub. Tribe 5. =Rottboellieae.=
Spikelets similar or dissimilar, 1- to 2-flowered,
solitary, 2- or rarely 3-nate on the internodes of
an articulated spike or raceme, not awned; the
first glume is not keeled, sunk in a cavity of
joints of the rachis; sessile spikelets 4-glumed.
Sessile spikelets single; first glume flat 25. Rottboellia.
Sessile spikelets geminate in all except
the uppermost joints 26. Mnesithea.
Sessile spikelets binate; first glume globose,
pitted 27. Manisuris.
Sub. Tribe 6. =Eu-Andropogoneae.=
Spikelets are dissimilar, 1-flowered, 2-(rarely)
3-nate on the whorled articulate branches of
simple or compound racemes or panicles; glumes
four, first glume not keeled, fourth glume usually
awned.
Spikelets binate below and 3-nate at
the top on a spicate or panicled inflorescence 28. Andropogon.
Spikelets in two superposed series. Upper series of
one or more sessile bisexual or female spikelets
with one terminal pedicelled male spikelet.
Rachis jointed above the involucral spikelets 29. Anthistiria.
Rachis jointed below the involucral spikelets 30. Iseilema.
16. Coix, _L._
These are tall monoecious annual or perennial grasses. The
inflorescences are terminal or axillary spiciform racemes. The
lowest-spikelet in the raceme is female and this is enclosed in a bract
which at length becomes hardened, polished and nut-like and the other
spikelets above it are male. The male spikelets are 2- to 3-nate at each
node of the rachis, 1 sessile and 1 or 2 pedicelled, lanceolate and
4-glumed. The first and the second glumes are subequal and empty, and
the first glume is winged along the inflated margins. The third and the
fourth glumes are hyaline, with three stamens or empty. The female
spikelet is ovoid acuminate and has four glumes. The first glume is
chartaceous and the others are thin and gradually smaller. The grain is
orbicular, ventrally furrowed and enclosed by the polished hard bract.
=Coix lachryma-jobi, _L._=
This is a tall monoecious leafy annual (rarely perennial) grass with
stout, smooth, polished, freely branching stems rooting at the lower
nodes and varying in length from 3 to 5 feet or more.
The _leaf-sheath_ is long, usually smooth but occasionally with
scattered tubercle-based hairs. The _ligule_ is a narrow membrane. The
_nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is long, flat, narrow or broad, acuminate, cordate at
base, with a stout midrib and many slender veins on both sides, usually
glabrous on both sides though occasionally with scattered hairs, and
with spinulosely serrate margins, varying from 4 to 18 inches in length
and 1/3 to 2 inches in breadth.
The _inflorescence_ consists of nodding or drooping spiciform racemes, 1
to 1-1/2 inches long, terminating the branches. The racemes consist of
many male spikelets with one (rarely two) female spikelets at the base;
the rachis is stout above, and the part within the bract enclosing the
female spikelet is slender.
The _male spikelets_ are imbricating, 2 or 3 at a node of the rachis,
one sessile and one or two pedicelled, dorsally compressed, articulate
at the base and persistent, very variable in size, 3/8 to 3/4 inch.
There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate, chartaceous, 3/5 inch long, acute, many-nerved,
concave with inflexed margins bearing narrow green many-veined wings.
The _second glume_ is similar to the first, but thinner and without the
wings, 5- to 9- or rarely 11-nerved. The _third glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate, hyaline, faintly 3- to 5-nerved, paleate and with
three stamens. The _fourth glume_ is similar to the third, paleate with
or without stamens.
[Illustration: Fig. 126.--Coix Lachryma-Jobi.]
1. Inflorescence; 2. the female spikelet; 3. male spikelets; 4, 5, 6 and
8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of a
male spikelet; 7 and 9. palea of the third and the fourth glumes,
respectively.]
The _female spikelet_ is enclosed by a closed bract which finally
becomes hardened, and there are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The
_first_ and the _second glumes_ are chartaceous. The _third_ and the
_fourth_ are hyaline, the former being empty and the latter with an
ovary. _Lodicules_ are not present. The _ovary_ is ovoid with very long
capillary styles. The grain is orbicular, compressed, channelled at the
back and enclosed within the stony, hardened and polished bract.
This grass usually grows in paddy fields. There are two distinct
varieties--one a fairly tall one annual and the other a very tall (5 to
10 feet) perennial one. The racemes of the latter are longer and
drooping, the male spikelets are in threes and the wings of the first
glume are usually broader than in the other form. This species is easily
recognized by the polished bract enclosing the female spikelet.
_Distribution._--Throughout India.
17. Polytoca, _Br._
These are tall monoecious annual or perennial grasses. Inflorescences
consist of spiciform racemes with spathaceous bracts; rachis is jointed.
Racemes may all be male or with one or two female spikelets at the base.
Male spikelets are geminate, one sessile and one pedicelled, 2-flowered
or imperfect, and with four glumes, which are subequal. The first glume
is membranous, many-nerved, shallowly concave and with a narrow
membranous margin. The second glume is narrower, ovate, acute, 5- to
9-nerved. The third glume is membranous, oblong, acute, 3- to 5-nerved,
paleate and with three stamens. The fourth glume is very slender,
hyaline, linear, paleate with three stamens or empty. Female spikelets
are broadly oblong, 1-flowered and with four glumes. The first glume is
thick, coriaceous and closely embraces the rachis of the spike by its
involute margin and the other glumes are within. The second glume is
oblong, many-nerved. The third is narrowly oblong, 3- to 5-nerved,
empty. The fourth glume is very narrow, truncate, 3-nerved, paleate.
Styles are very long with slender stigmas. Grain is small, fusiform,
terete and enclosed in the nut-like polished and hardened first glume.
=Polytoca barbata, _Stapf._=
This is an erect, tall, stout, freely branching, leafy, monoecious
perennial grass. The stems are terete, 3 to 6 feet high.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are long, glabrous, or with scattered tubercle-based
bristly hairs. The _ligule_ is a narrow membrane. The _nodes_ have a
ring of soft long hairs.
The _leaf-blades_ are long, flat, linear, acuminate, with a stout midrib
and thickened serrate margins, scabrid above and sometimes with a few
tubercle-based hairs, 10 inches to 2 feet long and 1/4 to 3/4 inch
broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of paniculate spike-like racemes
terminating the branches and at first enclosed in spathiform bracts, the
lower and outer spathiform bracts are one inch or more in length with a
long awn at the tip, and the inner proper sheaths are oblong, awned and
about 1/2 inch long. The raceme consists of one or more female spikelets
at the base and a number of male spikelets above, appearing as if
sessile on the top of the female spikelet, but really articulate with
the internode below it which is enclosed by the first glume of the
female spikelet.
[Illustration: Fig. 127.--Polytoca barbata.
1. Inflorescence; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the male spikelet; 4a and 5a. palea of the third
and the fourth glume, respectively; 6. the first glume of the sessile
spikelet; 7. female spikelet; 8, 9 and 10. the second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively; 11. palea of the fourth glume; 12. ovary.]
The _male spikelets_ are solitary, or binate and then one sessile and
one pedicelled, 2-flowered, reaching 3/8 inch in length and consist of
four _glumes_ each. The _first glume_ is concave, ovate, acute,
pubescent, herbaceous, many-nerved and with a narrow membranous margin
on one side only in the pedicelled and solitary spikelets and on both
sides in the sessile spikelets. The _second glume_ is narrower, dorsally
compressed, ovate, acuminate, 5- to 9-nerved, laterally compressed and
with a narrow wing to the keel near the apex in sessile spikelets and
dorsally compressed without the keel in the pedicelled and solitary
spikelets. The _third glume_ is membranous, oblong, acuminate, 3- to
5-nerved, with three stamens and paleate; the _palea_ is hyaline,
broadly linear. The _fourth glume_ is very slender, linear, hyaline,
with or without stamens, paleate; _palea_ is flat, narrowly linear.
_Lodicules_ are present and they are small. The _anthers_ in the third
glume are larger than those in the fourth glume.
The _female spikelet_ is oblong, 1/6 inch long, 1-flowered and with four
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is thickly coriaceous, white, shining,
closely embracing the rachis and the other glumes entire at the tip. The
_second glume_ is quadrately oblong, many-nerved. The _third glume_ is
oblong, narrower than the second, 3- to 5-nerved paleate, empty. The
_palea_ of the third glume is narrow, truncate. The _fourth glume_ is
narrow, truncate, 3-nerved, paleate; the _palea_ is truncate and wrapped
round the ovary. _Styles_ are long and stigmas slender. _Lodicules_ are
not present. The grain is fusiform, terete and within the nut-like
polished hardened glume.
_Distribution._--In damp situations all over India.
18. Imperata, _Cyril._
These are erect perennial grasses. The inflorescence is a spike-like
panicle, with very short filiform inarticulate branches and rachises.
Spikelets are binate, 1-flowered, all alike, both pedicelled, articulate
at the base and hidden by the very long silky hairs arising from a small
callus and from the glumes. There are four glumes. The first two glumes
are membranous, lanceolate, and subequal. The third glume is shorter and
smaller, hyaline. The fourth glume is still smaller and hyaline. Stamens
are two, rarely one. Lodicules are not found. Styles connate below, with
stigmas very long, narrow and exserted at the top of the spikelets.
Grain is small and oblong.
=Imperata arundinacea, _Cyril._=
This is an erect perennial grass with creeping, stoloniferous
root-stocks, with aerial stems varying from 6 inches to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is loose and glabrous. The _ligule_ consists of long
soft hairs. The _nodes_ are naked or bearded.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, flat, tapering from about the middle towards
the top, finely acuminate, and also narrowing towards the base into the
stout midrib, margins with fine long hairs at the base, 6 to 18 inches
by 1/10 to 1/3 inch, scabrous above and smooth beneath.
The _panicle_ is narrow, spike-like, silvery, 3 to 8 inches; branches
are short and appressed and the internodes of spikes are short with the
tips dilated.
The _spikelets_ are 1/8 to 1/6 inch concealed by long silvery hairs of
the callus and the glumes, articulate at the base; callus hairs are
about twice as long as the spikelet or longer.
There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is
ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, with ciliate tips and long hairs at the back
below the middle, rather thickened towards the base, dorsally hairy, 3-
to 7-nerved, nerves not reaching the tip. The _second glume_ is as long
as the first, with membranous margins and with long hairs at the back,
3- to 7-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, less than half as long as
the first and second glumes, oblong, obtuse or irregularly toothed,
nerveless or 1-nerved. The _fourth glume_ is slightly shorter and
narrower than the third, ovate, acute, obtuse or toothed, ciliate,
nerveless or faintly 1-nerved, paleate; _palea_ is about half as long as
the glume, quadrate, toothed or retuse, nerveless, glabrous. There are
only two stamens with orange anthers. Styles are slender, long, with
purple _stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are absent. Grain is small and oblong.
[Illustration: Fig. 128.--Imperata arundinacea.
1. A spikelet; 2, 3, 4, and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively; 6. palea of the fourth glume; 7. two stamens and
the ovary.]
This is fairly abundant in moist stiff soils. On account of the
underground stolons this grass cannot be eradicated easily.
_Distribution._--Throughout India.
19. Saccharum, _L._
These are tall perennial grasses. Inflorescence is a much branched open
panicle, branches spreading or erect, capillary and fragile. Spikelets
are small, 1-flowered, binate, one sessile and the other pedicelled, the
sessile spikelet is bisexual and the pedicelled is female and rarely
bisexual; sessile spikelets are deciduous with the contiguous joint of
the rachis and the pedicel. There are four glumes. The first glume is
chartaceous, equal in length to the second, oblong or lanceolate. The
second glume is concave. The third glume is hyaline, empty. The fourth
glume is very small or absent. Lodicules are present. There are three
stamens. Stigmas are laterally exserted. Grain is oblong or sub-globose.
=Saccharum spontaneum, _L._=
This is a tall perennial grass with a creeping root-stock bearing erect
stems and occasionally decumbent or prostrate stolons. Stems vary in
length from 5 to 20 feet. Branches and axillary buds grow out piercing
the sheaths near the nodes.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, but woolly at the mouth. The _ligule_ is
a distinct ovate membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is very long, narrow linear, acuminate and narrowing
downwards into the stout midrib, coriaceous, glabrous and 1-1/2 to 2
feet by 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
The _panicle_ is lanceolate, 8 to 24 inches, silky and the peduncle just
below the panicle is softly silky, branches are whorled, three to five
at a level, 2 to 4 inches long, rachis of the branches almost capillary,
jointed and fragile, joints with long cilia at the back.
The _spikelets_ are binate, one sessile and another pedicelled, both
bisexual and alike, lanceolate, 1/8 to 1/6 inch long, callus is minute
and bearded with spreading silky hairs 1/2 inch long.
[Illustration: Fig. 129.--Saccharum spontaneum.
1. Two spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively; 6. ovary, stamens and lodicules.]
There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, subulate,
acuminate, 2-nerved, flattened dorsally, coriaceous at the base and
hyaline above it, and with smooth incurved margins. The second _glume_
is about equal to or slightly shorter than the first, lanceolate,
acuminate, 1-nerved, keeled with an opaque base; margins and keel are
ciliate with fine long hairs. The _third glume_ is hyaline,
ovate-lanceolate, nerveless, acute, ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is very
slender, ciliate, acuminate, paleate; _palea_ is minute, very variable.
_Stamens_ are three. _Lodicules_ are cuneate or quadrate. The grain is
very small, oblong.
_Distribution._--This occurs all over India along the sides of the
river.
20. Ischaemum, _L._
The grasses of this genus are either annuals or perennials. The
inflorescence consists of spikes, solitary, digitate or fascicled,
articulate and fragile; the joints of the floral axis and the pedicels
of the pedicelled spikelets are trigonous and hollowed ventrally.
Spikelets are binate, one sessile and one pedicelled; the pedicelled
spikelets are dissimilar from the sessile and both usually 2-flowered.
The sessile spikelets have four glumes. The first glume is coriaceous,
oblong or lanceolate, convex more or less, marginally winged above the
middle, truncate or two-cuspidate at the apex and awnless. The second
glume is as long as the first, coriaceous, concave, acute or obtuse,
awned or not. The third glume is hyaline, deeply cleft into two lobes
with an awn in the cleft, and 3-nerved, paleate; palea is
linear-lanceolate enclosing either stamens and ovary or ovary alone.
Lodicules are cuneate or quadrate.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Racemes two or three; the first glume of the
sessile spikelet dorsally flat, not
channelled or depressed along the middle line.
Margin of the first glume of the sessile
spikelet incurved narrowly from the base to
the apex.
First glume of sessile spikelets with
nodulose margins. 1. I. aristatum.
First glume of sessile spikelets closely
transversely ribbed. 2. I. rugosum.
First glume of the sessile spikelet
translucent, bicuspidate at the tip and
with smooth margins. 3. I. pilosum.
Margin of the first glume of the sessile
spikelet broadly incurved from below the
middle.
First glume of the sessile spikelet with
smooth margins, callus bearded. 4. I. ciliare.
Raceme solitary; the first glume of the sessile
spikelet deeply grooved at the back along the
middle line. 5. I. laxum.
=Ischaemum aristatum, _L._=
This is a perennial grass, with fairly stout, erect or somewhat
decumbent, simple or branched, glabrous, leafy stems, 1 to 4 feet high.
The _leaf-sheath_ is loose, glabrous and auricled. The _ligule_ is a
distinct membrane, broad or narrow. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, flat, acuminate, narrowed towards
the base which may be acute, subcordate or rarely even petiolate,
glabrous or sparsely hairy above and glaucous beneath, 4 to 10 inches
long and 1/4 to 1 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of one or two, erect, stout or slender,
fragile racemes, 1 to 5 inches long.
[Illustration: Fig. 130.--Ischaemum aristatum.
1. A portion of the raceme showing the joints, sessile and pedicelled
spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume,
respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 5 and 7. palea of the third and
the fourth glumes, respectively; 8. ovary, stamens and lodicules; 9.
first glume of the pedicelled spikelet.]
The _spikelets_ are 1/6 to 1/3 inch long, the sessile and the pedicelled
closely pressed together, glabrous or hairy; the callus of the sessile
spikelet broad and thick, with or without hairs. The _sessile spikelet_
is awned and consists of four glumes. The _first glume_ is 1/5 inch long
or less, oblong or linear-oblong, cartilaginous below the middle, with
two to four (or rarely up to six) marginal nodules on each edge,
sometimes these are connected by shallow ridges, thinner above the
middle, with green anastomosing veins, tip obtuse or 2-toothed, and
margins narrowly incurved. The _second glume_ is chartaceous,
lanceolate, acuminate, 1-nerved and with a smooth rounded keel. The
_third glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, membranous, 1-nerved, acuminate, male
or bisexual with an oblong palea. The _fourth glume_ is cleft to or
below the middle into lanceolate acute lobes, with a brownish red awn
1/2 inch or more long at the sinus twisted at the lower portion and
straight above, paleate, usually female; _palea_ is linear oblong. The
_pedicelled spikelet_ is as long as the sessile, inarticulate on the
very thick, short pedicel which is densely or sparsely hairy at the
base. The _first glume_ is scimitar-shaped, coriaceous, acute, with a
somewhat semi-circular wing. The other _glumes_ are as in sessile
spikelets, but the fourth glume has no awn and may have a mucro.
This grass is a variable one. There is much variation in the breadth of
the leaves and in the markings and hairiness of the spikelets. The
spikelets may be glabrous or hairy and the marking in the first glume of
the sessile spikelets varies in the matter of marginal nodules--it may
have mere shallow notches or deep well-formed nodules and there may be
transverse ridges or they may be absent. This grass is abundant on the
West Coast and rare in the East Coast.
_Distribution._--Throughout the plains and lower hills of India and
Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 131.--Ischaemum aristatum.
A. A portion of the raceme showing the joints; B. a sessile and a
pedicelled spikelet. 1, 2, 3 and 6. the first, second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively; 4 and 5. palea of the third and the fourth
glume; 7. ovary and lodicules; 8. first glume of the pedicelled
spikelets.]
=Ischaemum rugosum, _Salisb._=
This is an erect annual grass with tufted, leafy, compressed stems
varying in length from 10 inches to 2 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, loose and compressed, with a membranous
auricle confluent with the truncate _ligule_. _Nodes_ usually glabrous
but sometimes also puberulous.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, linear-lanceolate, flat, base contracted,
flaccid, acuminate, rounded at the base, glabrous or sparsely hairy on
both the surfaces; the topmost leaf is often reduced to an inflated
sheath enclosing the inflorescence partially.
[Illustration: Fig. 132.--Ischaemum rugosum.
1. A part of the raceme showing sessile spikelets with reduced
pedicelled spikelets; 2. a sessile spikelet and a well developed
pedicelled spikelet; 3. a reduced pedicelled spikelet; 4, 5, 6 and 8.
the first, second, third and the fourth glume of the sessile spikelet; 7
and 9. palea of the third and fourth glumes of the sessile spikelet; 10.
ovary.]
The racemes are usually two, erect, fragile, 1 to 3 inches long with a
slight thickening of the peduncle below the inflorescence; the joints
are 1/3 to 2/3 as long as the sessile spikelets; trigonous and
subclavate, and with long hairs on one side. The _spikelets_ are
linear-oblong, glabrous or villous, 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, sessile and
stalked spikelets close together; the pedicel of the stalked spikelet is
thick about 1/3 or less than the length of the sessile spikelet, ciliate
on one side, confluent with the thick callus of the sessile spikelet,
which is sparsely bristly. The _sessile spikelet_ consists of four
glumes and is awned. The _first glume_ is concave, pale yellow, shining
and cartilaginous to about 2/3 its length from the base, and the upper
third is membranous, dimidiately ovate; at the back in the cartilaginous
portion, there are three to six deep convex smooth ridges running across
the glume; the membranous tip is thin and with anastomosing green veins;
the margins of this glume are thick, narrowly incurved, ciliolate, and
with a narrow wing on the outer margin. The _second glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, coriaceous, acuminate, scaberulous,
keeled and laterally compressed and on the keel just below the tip there
is a narrow ciliate wing. The _third glume_ is ovate-lanceolate,
hyaline, acuminate 1- to 3-veined, male or empty, with a narrow hyaline
palea. The _fourth glume_ is shorter than the third, deeply cleft into
two lanceolate acute lobes, 3-veined at the base; awn up to about 2/3
inch long; _palea_ is linear lanceolate. Stamens are three and
_lodicules_ are small and cuneate.
The pedicelled spikelet is very variable. It is shorter than the
sessile, with obscure transverse ridges and may consist of four glumes,
but without an awn to the fourth glume; sometimes this spikelet is
reduced to a single glume.
The grain is broadly oblong, brownish and compressed.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 133.--Ischaemum pilosum.
A and B. Ligules.]
=Ischaemum pilosum, _Hack._=
It is a tall, robust, perennial grass with rhizomes producing numerous
creeping stolons densely covered with scaly-sheaths. The aerial stems
are erect, freely branching at the base, slender, 2 to 3 feet long,
glabrous.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous. The _ligule_ is a distinct glabrous
membrane, 1/8 inch long, rounded. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, finely acuminate, glabrous but bearded at
the base, 6 to 12 inches long and 1/8 to 1/3 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of two to six softly hairy spikes which are
yellow or brown 1 to 4 inches long. Joints and pedicels are slender,
sparsely ciliate.
[Illustration: Fig. 134.--Ischaemum pilosum.
1. A sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 2, 3, 4 and 6. the first,
second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile
spikelets; 5. palea of the third glume, 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8.
ovary; 9, 10, 11 and 12. first, second, third and the fourth glume,
respectively, of the pedicelled spikelets; 13. palea of the fourth
glume.]
The _sessile spikelets_ are narrowly lanceolate, 3/4 inch long, with
long hairs at the base. The _first glume_ is dorsally hairy, or
glabrous, narrowed from the middle upwards, chartaceous, with incurved
margins and six or seven anastomosing nerves. The _second glume_ is
longer than the first, laterally compressed, ovate-lanceolate,
acuminate, chartaceous, glabrous but often with long hairs on the keel
towards the upper half, 5-nerved, the lateral nerves anastomosing. The
_third glume_ is a little shorter than the second, linear-oblong or
lanceolate, paleate; _palea_ is membranous, nerveless, and encloses
three stamens. The _fourth glume_ is equal to the third glume in length,
membranous, hyaline and divided almost to the middle into two acute
lobes with an awn 1/4 to 3/8 inch long, paleate; _palea_ is lanceolate,
nerveless and encloses three stamens and the ovary and sometimes only
the ovary. The _pedicelled_ _spikelets_ are shorter than the sessile but
with a shorter awn. The _glumes_ are similar to those of the sessile
spikelet; sometimes these spikelets are imperfect or even reduced to a
single glume.
This grass grows well in black cotton soils and sometimes it gets very
well established and then it is very difficult to eradicate it. Cattle
seem to like this grass.
_Distribution._--In black cotton soils all over the presidency, but most
abundant in the Ceded districts.
[Illustration: Fig. 135.--Ischaemum ciliare.]
=Ischaemum ciliare, _Retz._=
It is a tufted perennial grass, erect or creeping. Stems are erect or
ascending, sometimes decumbent at base, and rooting at the nodes, stout
or slender, 6 inches to 2 feet long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed, loose, glabrous or hairy. The _ligule_
is a short, ciliate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous or hairy.
The _leaf-blade_ is flat, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, narrowed towards
the acute or rounded base, glabrous or hairy, 2 to 6 inches long and 1/6
to 1/2 inch wide.
The _inflorescence_ consists of two spikes, 1-1/2 to 2 inches long;
joints and pedicels of the pedicelled spikelets equal, hairy at the back
and at the angles.
The _sessile spikelets_ are 1/8 to 1/5 inch long, oblong, bearded at the
base. The _first glume_ is coriaceous, convex, polished, smooth or
pitted, hairy below, flat and veined above the middle, with broad or
narrow ciliate equal wings and with margins narrowly inflexed above and
broadly so below. The _second glume_ is coriaceous, equal to or longer
than the first, lanceolate, acuminate, or shortly awned, 3- to 5-nerved,
keel narrowly winged towards the apex, dorsally ciliate or not. The
_third glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, ciliate towards the apex,
1- to 3-nerved, paleate; the _palea_ has a coriaceous lanceolate centre,
with broad hyaline ciliate wings and encloses three stamens. The _fourth
glume_ is hyaline, deeply lobed into two oblong obtuse glabrous or
ciliate lobes, with an awn twice as long as the spikelet in the cleft,
and paleate; _palea_ is lanceolate, acuminate, 2-nerved. _Styles_ and
_stigmas_ are short.
[Illustration: Fig. 136.--Ischaemum ciliare.
1. Spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 5 and 7. palea of the
third and the fourth glumes, respectively; 8. lodicules, stamens and the
ovary; 9 and 10. the first and the second glumes of the pedicelled
spikelet.]
The _pedicelled spikelets_ resemble the sessile ones in the structure of
their glumes and palea.
This grass is very variable in its habit and in the structure of its
spikelets. It grows mostly in wet situations, such as the bunds of paddy
fields and tanks. Cattle eat the grass eagerly.
_Distribution._--All over India and Ceylon.
=Ischaemum laxum, _L._=
This is a perennial grass with numerous stiff, thick and wiry roots.
Stems are erect, slender, rising in tufts from a short root-stock,
glabrous, leafy towards the base, varying in length from 2 to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are shorter than the internodes usually glabrous, but
occasionally with scattered hairs. At the mouth tufts of hairs are
present or not. The _ligule_ is a ridge of silky hairs. The _nodes_ are
glabrous.
The _leaf-blades_ are erect, flat, slightly glaucous, linear, narrowed
to long capillary tips, 5 to 12 inches long and 1/10 to 1/6 inch broad,
with prominent nerves and scabrid margins.
The _inflorescence_ is a solitary spike, 2 to 5 inches long, erect and
fragile; the joints and pedicels are compressed, somewhat 2-angled,
ciliate with long hairs, and about half as long as the spikelets.
[Illustration: Fig. 137.--Ischaemum laxum.
1. A sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 2. first glume of a sessile
spikelet; 3. second glume of a sessile spikelet; 4 and 5. third and
fourth glumes of sessile spikelets; 4a and 5a. are palea of third and
fourth glumes; 6. ovary; 7, 8, 9 and 10. glumes of pedicelled spikelets;
9a and 10a. palea of third and fourth glumes.]
The _spikelets_ are in pairs, one-sessile and one-pedicelled. The
_sessile spikelets_ are pale-green, linear-oblong, acuminate with a
shortly bearded callus, 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long. There are four
glumes in a spikelet. The _first glume_ is chartaceous,
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 2-toothed with the teeth ending in two
short awns, densely ciliated at the apex on one side, conspicuously 6-
(rarely) 7-nerved, the two lateral being very strong and running into
the apical teeth and the intermediate four nerves being shorter and not
running up to the apex, and on the dorsal surface there is a depression,
where it is membranous and the nerves on its sides sometimes
anastomosing at the upper third of the glume. The _second_ _glume_ is
shorter than the first, chartaceous to a certain extent,
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, terminating in a fine scabrid awn,
1/2 inch long, with margins ciliate from above the middle to the apex,
and with a narrow ciliated wing on the keel at the apex running up to
the base of the awn, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is lanceolate,
acuminate, hyaline, nerveless, ciliate, with a linear obtuse _palea_
enclosing three stamens and two _lodicules_. The _fourth glume_ is
hyaline, membranous, deeply split at the apex into two prominent lobes
and with an awn in the depression 1/2 inch long, the _palea_ is linear
oblong and contains either the ovary alone or both the _stamens_ and the
_ovary_.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are also as long as the sessile, more
conspicuous than the sessile and consist of four glumes, but are not
awned. The _first glume_ is lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate,
chartaceous, with seven strong nerves, very prominent at the back and
the mid nerve being most conspicuous, with scabrid keels and closely
finely ciliated and folded margins, finely biaristate at the apex. The
_second glume_ is lanceolate, finely acuminate, sub-chartaceous, with
the margins ciliate from about two-third its length from the apex,
3-nerved, the mid nerve alone being prominent. The _third glume_ is
hyaline, nerveless, lanceolate, ciliate in the margin, paleate with 3
stamens or empty. The _fourth glume_ is shorter than the third, hyaline,
narrow lanceolate, not awned, ciliate or not at the margin, paleate and
with three stamens and two _lodicules_.
This grass produces a large amount of leaves in good soils and it is
liked very much by cattle. It is capable of standing a long spell of dry
weather, and is valuable in this respect because it can be depended upon
when other grasses fail. It is worth conserving with other grasses. It
grows both in rich and poor soils, in open places and also in thickets.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.
21. Eremochloa, _Buse._
These are tufted perennial grasses with rigid equitant leaves at the
base. The inflorescence consists of a solitary, glabrous, and compressed
spike, with a somewhat fragile rachis; the joints are compressed, hollow
and clavate. The spikelets are solitary, usually 2-flowered (rarely
1-flowered), secund, closely imbricating, sessile with a short,
pedicelled, reduced upper spikelet, and deciduous with the joint. There
are four glumes. The first glume is oblong or ovate, flat, smooth,
coriaceous, pectinately margined with upcurved spines. The second glume
is oblong-lanceolate, acute and 3-nerved. The third glume is hyaline,
obtuse, paleate and male. The fourth glume is smaller, hyaline, oblong,
obtuse, 1-nerved, paleate, bisexual or female. Lodicules are truncate
and slightly oblique. Stamens are three with long anthers. Styles are
two with feathery stigmas. The grain is oval, plano-convex.
=Eremochloa muricata, _Hack._=
This is a perennial tufted grass with a woody creeping root-stock. Stems
are erect or ascending, slender, strongly compressed, lower parts
completely covered by rigid equitant leaves, 6 to 18 inches long or
more.
The _leaf-sheath_ is broad, flat, much compressed, glabrous and keeled.
The _ligule_ is a short membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, glabrous on both sides, 2 to 6 inches long
and 3/16 to 1/4 inch broad, with a rounded tip and two unequal lobes.
The _spike_ is solitary, up to 6 inches (or more) in length, joints of
the rachis 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the spikelets. _Spikelets_ are
solitary, sessile, compressed, secund. The _sessile spikelets_ are 3/16
to 1/6 inch, and consist of four spikelets. The _first glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate, dorsally slightly convex, smooth, coriaceous, 7- to
9-nerved, and with pectinate margins consisting of long, spreading,
upcurved spines and at the top with subquadrate wings on each side
reaching beyond the acute tip. The _second glume_ is chartaceous,
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, usually 5-nerved (and occasionally
3-nerved), the mid-nerve keeled with a narrow wing from below the middle
to the base and with hyaline margins. The _third glume_ is
oblong-obovate, hyaline, thin, paleate with three yellow _anthers_ and
two oblong-cuneate _lodicules_; _palea_ is narrow, oblong, obtuse. The
_fourth glume_ is thin, hyaline, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, paleate, and
bisexual; _palea_ lanceolate, narrow, two-toothed at the apex, with deep
purple _anthers_ and _stigmas_ of the same colour. The _lodicules_ are
obliquely truncate. _Ovary_ has a reddish spot between the style
branches and just at the apex in the fresh state in the bud and in the
open flower.
[Illustration: Fig. 138.--Eremochloa muricata.
A. Sessile spikelet; B. sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 1, 2, 3 and
4. the first, second, third and the fourth glume of the sessile
spikelet; 3a and 4a. palea of the third and fourth glumes of the sessile
spikelet; 5. ovary, anthers and lodicules.]
The _pedicelled spikelet_ is reduced to an inflated body, as long as the
sessile spikelet. It is pointed towards both ends, green with
anastomosing veins on the outside and membranous, white and nerveless on
the other side. The part of the pedicelled spikelet corresponding to the
spikelet looks as if the margins of the first and second glumes are
confluent all round.
_Distribution._--South India and Ceylon.
22. Apocopis, _Nees._
These are annual or perennial grasses with slender stems. The spikes are
compressed, 2- to 3-nate, or solitary at the ends of slender branches,
with a rachis not jointed; joints are short, slender and villous.
Spikelets are closely imbricating in two series, sessile, solitary, the
upper reduced to a small pedicel 1- to 2-flowered, the lowest few on the
spike, imperfect, male or neuter. There are four glumes. The first glume
is large, broadly obovate or obcordate, cuneate, villous with brown
hairs, 7- to 9-nerved. The second glume is as long as the first, but
narrower, thinner, oblong to ovate, spikelet truncate and 3-nerved. The
third glume is hyaline, narrow, paleate, male or empty. The fourth glume
is hyaline, linear, entire or 2-fid, awned, bisexual with a very short
palea. Lodicules are absent. Stamens are two or three with linear
anthers. Styles are short and stigmas slender and exserted. The grain is
small, oblong and narrow.
[Illustration: Fig. 139.--Apocopis Wightii.]
=Apocopis Wightii, _Nees ex Steud._=
This is a low and densely tufted or tall erect annual grass. Stems are
leafy, branching freely, 3 to 8 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is loose, usually hairy, rarely also glabrous and
hairy at the mouth. The _ligule_ is a small lacerate membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, acuminate, hairy on both sides
and with tubercle-based hairs, rarely glabrous, 3/4 to 3 inches by 1/12
to 1/8 inch.
The _inflorescence_ consists of two racemes, closely appressed together
on a very slender peduncle; the joints are shorter than the spikelets
and with long brown hairs.
The _spikelets_ are oblong, 1/8 to 1/5 inch long, the callus is short,
hairy with long brown hairs. The _first glume_ is cuneately obovate or
obcordate, yellowish with red brown tips or dark brown with yellow tips,
chartaceous below, membranous, hyaline and ciliate at the truncate,
emarginate or retuse apex, 7- to 9-nerved, the nerves abruptly ceasing
towards the apex. The _second glume_ is as long as the first, broadly
oblong, sides sharply folded inwards, 3-nerved, rarely nerveless, with
long hairs at the back towards the base and with short cilia at the
apex. The _third glume_ is as long as the first, hyaline, thin,
linear-oblong, nerveless, ciliate at the apex, paleate, usually with two
stamens or empty; _palea_ as long as the glume, hyaline and nerveless.
The _fourth glume_ is slightly longer than the other glumes or equal,
very narrowly oblong or linear, membranous, awned and paleate; _awn_ is
2 to 6 times the length of the glume, 7/8 to 1-1/4 inch long; _palea_ is
hyaline, thin, nerveless, convolute, broadly oblong to almost quadrate
oblong, apex with very short cilia. Grain is minute and oblong.
[Illustration: Fig. 140.--Apocopis Wightii.
1. Spike; 2. a spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 7. the first, second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively; 6 and 8. palea of the third and the fourth
glume; 9. ovary.]
This grass varies very much in its spikelets. In one form they are
smaller and hairy and in the other they are larger and glabrous except
for a few stray hairs here and there. The former one is more widely
distributed and the latter seems to be confined to certain localities in
the south of the Presidency.
_Distribution._--Throughout the Deccan Peninsula, Behar, Central India,
Burma and Ceylon.
23. Lophopogon, _Hack._
These are small densely tufted perennial grasses, with very narrow
leaves. The spikes are very short at the ends of very fine branches,
solitary, binate or fascicled, with very fragile rachis; joints are very
short, slender with cupular tips. The spikelets are binate one sessile
and the other shortly pedicelled, with the callus villous. There are
four glumes. The first glume (of both the sessile and the pedicelled
spikelets) is oblong, truncate, irregularly 3- to 4-toothed, 5- to
7-nerved and dorsally convex. The second glume is narrow lanceolate,
longer than the first, 3- to 5-nerved, hispidly villous dorsally below
the middle and on the sides, aristate or awned. The third glume is
oblong lanceolate, hyaline, acute or aristate, 1-nerved, male or neuter,
with a linear palea. The fourth glume is hyaline, as long as the third,
entire or 2-fid and awned in the pedicelled and not awned in sessile
spikelets, paleate with female or bisexual flowers. Lodicules are not
present. Stamens are two. Stigmas are long.
=Lophopogon tridentatus, _Hack._=
This is a small annual grass with slender, tufted, erect stems varying
in height from 4 to 12 inches.
_Leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous or with scattered hairs. The _ligule_ is a
fringe of close-set long hairs. _Nodes_ are covered with long hairs
below, but nodes nearer the inflorescence are glabrous.
_Leaf-blades_ are very finely linear, acuminate, rigid, erect, glabrous
below, with long hairs on the upper surface to about quarter the length
of the blade and densely hairy near the mouth, and varying in length
from 2 to 6 inches.
The _inflorescence_ consists of usually two closely appressed spikes,
though appearing as one, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, pilose with ferrugineous
hairs; the peduncle is capillary and enclosed by the upper leaf-sheath.
[Illustration: Fig. 141.--Lophopogon tridentatus.
1. Awnless lower spikelet; 2. a lower sessile and an upper pedicelled
spikelet; 3. the first glume of an awnless lower spikelet; 4. the first
glume of a lower spikelet that is awned; 5. the first, glume of the
upper or pedicelled spikelets; 6, 7 and 9. the second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively, of the upper pedicelled spikelets; 8 and 10.
palea of the third and the fourth glumes; 11. ovary and anthers.]
The _spikelets_ are densely imbricate, binate at each joint, the upper
being shortly pedicelled and the lower sessile or subsessile. The _lower
spikelets_ are 1/5 inch long with a tuft of brownish hairs at the tip of
the callus. The _lower spikelets_ at the very base of the inflorescence
are awnless and contain only two male flowers, whereas those above in
the inflorescence are awned and contain one male flower and one
hermaphrodite or female flower.
There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ in the
awnless spikelets is coriaceous, oblong, cuneate, very sparsely hairy or
glabrous, shorter than the second glume, 7-nerved, 5-toothed at the
apex, two teeth being broader and shorter and three sharper and longer.
The _second glume_ is longer than the first, 1/5 inch long,
sub-chartaceous, lanceolate, 3-nerved, 2-fid at the tip and awned or
aristate, margin hyaline and with long brownish hairs on the marginal
nerves. The _third glume_ is hyaline, a little shorter than the second,
lanceolate-linear, tip bifid or irregularly toothed, paleate with two
stamens or rarely empty; the _palea_ is linear, about as long as the
glume, tip irregularly toothed. The _fourth glume_ is hyaline, as long
as the third glume, 2-fid at the tip, awnless with a very minute arista
in the cleft or not, paleate with two stamens; _palea_ narrow and
hyaline. The _first glume_ of the lower spikelets above is somewhat
narrower, 5- or 3-toothed with long hairs at the margins and with tufts
of hairs at the back about the middle. The pedicelled or upper spikelets
also have four _glumes_ and bear one male flower and one bisexual
flower. The _first glume_ is shorter than the second glume, narrow,
oblong, cuneate, 3-toothed with marginal hairs and tufts of hairs at
about the middle at the back, 7-nerved all nerves running straight. The
_second glume_ is longer than the first, 1/5 inch long, sub-chartaceous,
lanceolate, 2-fid at the tip, awned with hyaline margins, 3- to
7-nerved, marginal nerves with long brown hairs, and also with two tufts
of hairs at about the middle or without it. The _third glume_ is
hyaline, nerveless, linear-lanceolate, shorter than the second glume,
tip irregularly toothed or unequally bifid, paleate with two stamens;
_palea_ is linear about as long as the glume. The _fourth glume_ is
hyaline, about 1/6 inch long, lanceolate, 2-fid at the tip, awned in the
cleft, lobes are hairy; _awn_ is 3/4 inch long, paleate, usually
bisexual, rarely female; _palea_ is two-thirds of the glume in height,
broadly ovate or quadrate, lobulate at the apex. _Styles_ are very long,
purple, _anthers_ long, yellow. Grain narrow ellipsoidal or cylindric as
long as the palea.
This grass is found in Chingleput, Nellore and Chittoor districts in
open waste places in loamy soils.
_Distribution._--The Konkan, Kanara and Central Provinces.
24. Apluda, _L._
These are tall leafy slender perennial grasses, with branching stems
erect or geniculately ascending from a creeping or decumbent base. The
inflorescence is a leafy panicle of many small spikes enclosed in
spathiform bracts. Spikes are of one linear joint gibbously bulbous at
the base, and jointed on the peduncle at the base of the spathe by a
minute curved pedicel. Spikelets are three, a sessile, 2-flowered
bisexual one in front, and two pedicelled ones behind, one of which is
imperfect and reduced to a glume and the other perfect male or rarely
bisexual. The two pedicels are flat, prolonged from one side of the
rounded rachis, oblong linear, truncate with a few long hairs along the
margin. Sessile spikelets have four glumes. The first glume is
chartaceous, linear oblong, many-nerved, shortly bifid at the apex,
longer than the other glumes. The second glume is thinner, dorsally
gibbous, keeled, 5- to 9-nerved, beaked and minutely bifid. The third
glume is hyaline, oblong, acute, 3-nerved, paleate and male. The fourth
glume is hyaline, deeply bifid, awned in the sinus, bisexual with a
minute palea. The pedicelled spikelet has also four glumes. The first
and the second glumes are nearly equal, rather chartaceous.
linear-oblong, acute or acuminate, many-nerved. The third glume is
hyaline, oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved, paleate and male. The fourth glume
is hyaline, bifid, paleate, 1-nerved, female or bisexual. Lodicules are
two. Stamens are three. Grain is oblong.
=Apluda varia, _Hack._=
This is a tall leafy perennial grass with wiry roots. Stems are densely
tufted, branched, geniculately ascending, erect or the branches
scandent, solid, smooth and polished, 1 to 7 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous or slightly hairy, the upper ones being
shorter and dilated into spathes with subulate tips. The _ligule_ is a
short stiff slightly lacerate membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, base narrowed
into a petiole, scaberulous on both the surfaces.
The _inflorescence_ consists of simple spikes, each in a spathiform
bract, and forming clusters terminating the stem and the branches. The
_spikes_ have their bases rounded and swollen and each spike consists of
a sessile bisexual spikelet and two flat linear, truncate, parallel
pedicels, one terminated by a spikelet, and the other by a solitary
minute glume. Spathes are 1/8 to 1/3 inch long, sessile or pedicellate,
green, cymbiform, with subulate tips.
[Illustration: Fig. 142.--Apluda varia.
A. A cluster of spikes containing five spikes with their spathes; B and
C. spikes.]
The _sessile_ as well as the _pedicelled spikelets_ have four _glumes_.
The _sessile spikelets_ are 1/8 to 1/5 inch long. The _first glume_ is
spreading or erect, chartaceous, many-nerved, two-toothed at the apex
and with narrow hyaline margins from about the middle to the apex. The
_second glume_ is compressed, dorsally gibbous, keeled, 7-nerved. The
_third glume_ is hyaline, oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved, paleate with
three stamens; _palea_ is narrow. The _fourth glume_ is shorter than the
third, deeply 2-fid and awned in the cleft, bisexual or female, 3- to
5-nerved below the cleft, the lateral nerves arching and meeting the
mid-nerve just at the cleft, with a small ovate palea. There are two
_lodicules_. The _pedicelled spikelets_ are dorsally compressed. The
_first glume_ is lanceolate, oblong, subacute, many-nerved, coriaceous
and glabrous. The _second glume_ is as long as the first, many-nerved,
lanceolate-oblong, coriaceous and glabrous. The _third glume_ is
hyaline, shorter than the second, 3-nerved, paleate and with three
stamens. The _fourth glume_ is shorter than or equal to the third,
hyaline, 1-nerved rarely with two short lateral nerves, female or
imperfect. _Lodicules_ are two.
A very common grass occurring in the plains and lower hills, all over
the Presidency and grows well in all kinds of soil.
_Distribution._--All over India.
[Illustration: Fig. 143.--Apluda varia.
1, 2, 3 and 4. The first, second, third and the fourth glume,
respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 3a and 4a. are the palea of the
third and the fourth glume, respectively; 5. stamens, ovary and
lodicules; 6, 7, 8 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 9 and 11. palea of the
third and the fourth glumes.]
25. Rottboellia, _Linn. f._
These are tall, annual or perennial grasses, with leafy stems and narrow
leaves. The spikes are few or many, solitary or panicled, with a jointed
usually fragile rachis; the joints are rounded or compressed, hollowed
on one side and excavated at the tip. The spikelets are usually binate,
one-sessile closing or sunk in the cavity of the joint and the other
pedicelled, smaller than the sessile or rudimentary with the pedicel
usually adnate to the joints and equal to or shorter than it. The
sessile spikelets are bisexual, 1- to 2-flowered, equal to or shorter
than the joint and four-glumed. The first glume is coriaceous dorsally
flattened, obtuse, margins narrowly incurved. The second glume is
thinner than the first, broadly ovate, acute and gibbously convex. The
third glume is hyaline, ovate, acute, male or neuter, with a membranous
palea. The fourth glume is hyaline, bisexual, broadly ovate, acute with
a hyaline, ovate-lanceolate palea. There are three stamens with linear
anthers. There are two cuneate lodicules. Styles are two with laterally
exserted stigmas. The grain is broadly oblong. The pedicelled spikelets
are smaller than the sessile, male or neuter, with four glumes. The
first glume is herbaceous, many-nerved, ovate-acute, minutely bifid at
the apex. The second, third and the fourth are more or less similar to
those of the sessile spikelet.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Spike solitary, the first glume of the sessile
spikelet broadly winged. R. Myurus.
Spikes fascicled, the first glume of the sessile
spikelet narrowly winged. R. exaltata.
=Rottboellia Myurus, _Benth._=
This is a tufted perennial with creeping stems which branch freely into
ascending compressed branches, 10 inches to 2 feet high.
The _leaf-sheath_ is quite glabrous and compressed. The _ligule_ is a
short ciliate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
_The leaf-blade_ is flat, linear, acute, glabrous, 2 to 6 inches long.
The _inflorescence_ consists of a solitary terminal or axillary _raceme_
1 to 2 inches long; joints are shorter than the spikelets, excavate on
one side and with a pore which is hidden by the sessile spikelet. The
_sessile spikelet_ consists of _four glumes_. The _first glume_ is
somewhat fiddle-shaped, dilated above the middle into an orbicular wing,
and towards the base into two auricles joined by a transverse ridge,
scaberulous, 5-nerved. The _second glume_ is somewhat membranous, ovate,
acute and 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, thin, oblong, obtuse
and nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is lanceolate, nerveless and without a
palea, bisexual. There are two cuneate _lodicules_. The _pedicelled
spikelets_ also have four glumes and the pedicels usually free, but also
sometimes adnate. The _first glume_ is oblong, obtuse, winged on one
side only, 5-nerved. The _second glume_ is boat-shaped, chartaceous,
3-nerved crested with a semi-circular wing at the apex. The _third
glume_ is hyaline, broadly oblong, obtuse, 3-nerved with a lanceolate
hyaline palea. The _fourth glume_ is oblong, obtuse, male.
[Illustration: Fig. 144.--Rottboellia Myurus.]
1. A portion of the raceme showing front view; 2. a portion of the
raceme showing the back view; 3. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet
showing the front side; 4. the same showing the back side; 5, 6, 7 and
8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume of the sessile
spikelet, respectively; 9 ovary and lodicules; 10, 11, 12 and 14. the
first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the
pedicelled spikelet; 13 and 15. palea of the third and fourth glumes of
the sessile spikelet.
This is very common in dry somewhat sandy places in the East Coast
districts.
_Distribution._--Common in Deccan peninsula.
=Rottboellia exaltata, _L.f._=
This grass is usually annual and rarely perennial. Stems are stout,
erect, hispid, branching from the base, varying in height from 3 to 10
feet.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are loose, hispid with tubercle-based hairs, or
glabrous, with mouth contracted. The _ligule_ is short and ciliate.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, setaceously-acuminate with a
stout midrib prominent beneath, hispid or scabrid above, smooth or
sometimes scaberulous and glaucous beneath, spinulosely scabrid at the
margin, 5 to 24 inches by 1/4 to 1 inch.
[Illustration: Fig. 145.--Rottboellia exaltata.
1 and 2. A portion of the spike, back and front view; 3, 4, 5 and 7. the
first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile
spikelet; 6 and 8. palea of the third and the fourth glumes of the
sessile spikelet; 9. ovary; 10, 11, 12 and 14. the first, second, third
and the fourth glume of the pedicelled spikelet; 13 and 15. palea of the
third and the fourth glume of the pedicelled spikelet.]
The _racemes_ are stout, cylindrical below and very narrow and with
imperfect spikelets above, joints are smooth and rounded dorsally. The
_sessile spikelets_ are as long as the joint or slightly shorter and has
four glumes. The _first glume_ is ovate-oblong, thickly coriaceous,
smooth at the back with a truncate base and a transverse ridge at the
base inside, many-nerved, with very narrow inflexed margins and very
narrow wings at the top, the apex is obtuse or emarginate. The _second
glume_ is equal to the first glume in height, chartaceous, gibbously
convex, broadly ovate, acute, 9- to 11-nerved, and with a short wing to
the keel at the apex. The _third glume_ is oblong or elliptic-oblong,
rigid with a hyaline centre and coriaceous at the sides, 3-nerved,
paleate and with three stamens; _palea_ is as long as the glume,
coriaceous with inflexed hyaline margins. _Lodicules_ are cuneate, with
toothed edge. The _fourth glume_ is a little shorter than the third,
ovate from a broad base, hyaline and acute, 1-nerved, paleate and
usually with an ovary and two _lodicules_: _palea_ is hyaline, as long
as the glume. but narrower, nerveless. _Lodicules_ are quadrate; grain
somewhat large oblong and compressed. The _pedicelled spikelets_ are
usually imperfect.
This grass occurs all over the Presidency in cultivated dry fields.
_Distribution._--Throughout the lower hills and plains of India and in
Australia and Africa.
26. Mnesithea, _Kunth._
These are erect slender perennial grasses with narrow leaves. The spikes
are solitary and slender, with a fragile, articulated rachis; the joints
are terete, ribbed, all but a few upper with two equal and similar
sessile spikelets, sunk in sub-opposite oblong cavities, separated by a
hyaline septum, and with sometimes a minute glume representing a third
spikelet (the pedicelled) on the upper margin of the joint. The sessile
spikelets are one-flowered, nearly as long as the internode. There are
four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume closing the mouth of the
cavity in the joint is obliquely oblong, obtuse, smooth with narrowly
incurved margins. The second and the third glumes are as long as the
first, obtuse and hyaline. The third glume is empty, paleate or not. The
fourth glume is rather small, oblong, obtuse, bisexual and palea shorter
than the glume. The lodicules are not present. The stamens are three.
Ovary is very small with stigmas not exserted. The grain is narrowly
oblong compressed. The pedicelled spikelets are confined to the upper
1-flowered joints of the spike and their pedicels are confluent with the
walls of the joints and their margins are marked by two ribs. The first
glume is very minute and the other glumes are absent.
=Mnesithea laevis, _Kunth._=
This is an erect slender perennial grass with smooth simple or branched
stems varying in height from 2 to 4 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is terete, tight, glabrous. The _ligule_ is a short
toothed membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is flat, linear from a narrow base, glabrous or base
hairy; apices of upper leaves acuminate, and those of the lower obtuse,
with finely serrate margins and a midrib prominent below, 6 to 12 inches
long and 1/10 to 1/6 inch wide.
_Racemes_ are short, exserted from the uppermost sheath, erect, 4 to 8
inches long; joints are 1/5 inch long, contracted in the middle, with
two equal and similar spikelets, sunk in the opposite oblong cavities
separated by a thin hyaline septum and sometimes with a minute glume of
the third spikelet on the upper margin of the joint.
[Illustration: Fig. 146.--Mnesithea laevis.
1 and 2. Portions of a spike; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third
and the fourth glume, respectively; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8.
ovary; 9 and 10. a part of the spike at the terminal portion.]
The _sessile spikelets_ are 1-flowered, as long as the joint and varying
in length from 1/7 to 1/5 inch and have four _glumes_. The _first glume_
is obliquely oblong, coriaceous, smooth, obtuse, margins narrowly
incurved, truncate and pitted at the base, 5- to 7-nerved. The _second
glume_ is as long as the first hyaline, oblong and obtuse. The _third
glume_ is like the second but thinner and slightly broader, paleate or
not, empty. The _fourth glume_ is rather smaller than the third, oblong,
obtuse, bisexual and paleate; the _palea_ is shorter than the glume.
_Lodicules_ are not present.
This grass is usually found in dry fields all over the presidency but it
is nowhere abundant.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.
27. Manisuris, _Sw._
These are erect leafy much branched annual grasses. Leaves are
amplexicaul and cordate at the base. The inflorescence consists of
small, terete, axillary and terminal spikes with peduncles often
confluent in a leafy spiciform panicle; the rachis is fragile with short
broad joints, deeply excavate opposite the sessile spikelets and the
tips with two pits. Spikelets are in dissimilar pairs, one globose,
sessile and bisexual and the other ovate, pedicelled, neuter with the
pedicels adnate to, or closely appressed to the joint of the rachis. The
sessile spikelet has four glumes. The first glume is globose, hard,
coarsely pitted, with an oblong ventral opening opposite the cavity in
the joint of the rachis. The second glume is chartaceous, minute,
oblong, 1-nerved immersed in the cavity of the first glume and closing
the opening. The third and the fourth glumes are hyaline and minute. The
lodicules are broadly cuneate. Anthers are minute. The styles are free
and stigmas are short exserted from the opening in the first glume.
Grain is sub-globose.
=Manisuris granularis, _L.f._=
This is a freely branching annual with stems leafy to the top and
varying in length from 1 to 2-1/2 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is inflated, covered with scattered tubercle-based
hairs. The _ligule_ is a short membrane with ciliate margin. _Nodes_ are
with long hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, cordate and amplexicaul at base, acute,
flat, flaccid, with scattered tubercle-based hairs on both the surfaces,
4 to 10 inches by 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
The _spikes_ are solitary, axillary and terminal and 1/4 to 1 inch, the
peduncles of the spikes are often confluent in a leafy spathiform
panicle; the rachis is fragile with short joints deeply excavate on one
side.
[Illustration: Fig. 147.--Manisuris granularis.
1 and 2. The front and back view of a bit of a spike; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the
first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile
spikelet; 7. ovary anthers and lodicules; 8, 9, 10 and 12. the first,
second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled
spikelet; 11 and 13. palea of the third and fourth glumes.]
The _spikelets_ are 1- to 2-flowered in dissimilar pairs, one globose,
sessile and bisexual and the other ovate, pedicelled, neuter; the
pedicel is adnate to the joint of the rachis.
The _sessile spikelet_ has four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is hard,
globose, foveolate, with an oblong opening, faintly nerved. The _second
glume_ is chartaceous, immersed in the cavity of the joint, and filling
the opening. The _third glume_ is small hyaline and empty. The _fourth
glume_ is hyaline, small and paleate. The grain is sub-globose.
_Lodicules_ are broadly cuneate.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ also have four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is
ovate, sub-chartaceous, winged on one side with a broad hyaline ciliate
wing, 5- to 7-veined. The _second glume_ is cymbiform, compressed
laterally, with a dorsal hyaline ciliate wing to the keel, 5- to
7-veined. The _third glume_ is hyaline, membranous, oblong, 2-nerved and
paleate or not, and with or without stamens. The _fourth glume_ is
similar to the third, but slightly smaller, paleate and with three
stamens.
This grass occurs in open loamy soils and in cultivated dry fields.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon and also in most of the
tropical countries.
28. Andropogon, _L._
The grasses of this genus are either perennial or annual and vary very
much in habit. The inflorescence consists of solitary, binate, digitate,
or panicled racemes. The rachis is usually jointed and fragile.
Spikelets are binate, a sessile female or bisexual and a pedicelled male
or neuter. The sessile spikelet is 1-flowered and has usually four
glumes. The first glume is coriaceous or chartaceous, dorsally
compressed, with incurved margins, usually 2-keeled. The second glume is
as long as the first, thinner, with a median keel, laterally compressed,
awned or not. The third glume is hyaline, empty, nerveless and without a
palea. The fourth glume is hyaline, narrow or broad, 2-fid and awned, or
reduced to an awn more or less dilated at the base, paleate or not.
There are two lodicules and three stamens. Stigmas are feathery. Grain
is free. The pedicelled spikelets are usually smaller than the sessile
and have three or four glumes and are awnless.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
A. Sessile spikelets all similar.
B. Racemes of many spikelets.
C. Peduncle of racemes enclosed in
spathiform leaf-sheaths.
D. Joints of rachis and pedicels of upper
spikelets slender and tips obliquely
truncate.
Racemes solitary, pedicelled spikelets
similar to the sessile, glume
1 of sessile spikelets pitted. 1. A. foveolatus.
DD. Joints of rachis and pedicels of upper
spikelets clavate or trumpet-shaped and
tips cupular with toothed margins.
Racemes binate, pedicelled spikelets
differing from the sessile, glume I
of the sessile spikelets deeply
channelled. 2. A. pumilus
CC. Peduncle of racemes not enclosed in
spathiform leaf-sheath.
Racemes many, fascicled or panicled,
glume I of sessile spikelets
glabrous and pitted. 3. A. pertusus.
Racemes many and whorled in the
panicle; glume I of sessile spikelets
muricate on the margins. 4. A. squarrosus.
BB. Racemes of 3 spikelets on the capillary
whorled branches of an erect panicle.
Pedicels of upper spikelets half as long
as the sessile spikelets or longer.
Leaves broad.
Leaf-sheaths covered densely with
bristly hairs. 5. A. asper.
Leaf-sheaths covered with soft hairs. 6. A. Wightianus
Pedicels of upper spikelets not half as
long as the sessile spikelet.
Leaves glabrous and narrow 7. A. monticola.
AA. The lowest one or more sessile spikelets in
all racemes, or at least in one or two, differing
from all those above.
Racemes digitate, rarely solitary, spikelets
all alike in form but differing in sex.
Pedicel 1/3 as long as the sessile
spikelets; nodes usually glabrous;
ligule usually short and membranous. 8. A. caricosus.
Pedicel 1/2 as long as the sessile
spikelets; nodes bearded; ligule
large and membranous. 9. A. annulatus.
Racemes solitary; lower sessile spikelets very
unlike the pedicelled or upper spikelets which
are cylindric.
Margin of glume 1 of the pedicelled
spikelet unequally winged; ligule
is a broad truncate membrane. 10. A. contortus.
Racemes two, both sessile, or one sessile and
the other pedicelled on a peduncle which is
more or less sheathed by a proper spathe,
divaricate or deflexed.
Leaf base broad and cordate 11. A. Schoenanthus.
_N.B._--This genus is now split into several separate genera,
each subgenus being raised to the rank of a genus. But in this
book the nomenclature adopted in Hooker's Flora of British
India is followed.
[Illustration: Fig. 148.--Andropogon foveolatus.]
=Andropogon foveolatus, _Del._=
The stems are slender at first, slightly decumbent at the base and then
erect, covered at base with silkily villous sheaths, branches freely
above before flowering, the lower portion of stems alone being leafy.
The _leaf-sheath_ is somewhat scaberulous, partly green and partly
purplish, always shorter than the internode. The _ligule_ is short,
truncate, hyaline and ciliate. _Nodes_ are tumid and purplish with a
ring of hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, narrow, sometimes even filiform, acuminate
slightly cordate at the base, scabrid throughout with a few scattered
long bulbous-based hairs near the base to a distance of less than 1/2
inch about it and varies from 2 to 4 inches in length.
[Illustration: Fig. 149.--Andropogon foveolatus.
1 and 2. Sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first,
second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile
spikelet; 7. lodicules, anthers and ovary; 8, 9 and 10. the two glumes
and the palea of the pedicelled spikelet.]
The _spikes_ are solitary, 1 to 1-3/4 inch long exserted far above the
small spathiform leaf-sheaths, peduncles are capillary and scaberulous,
pedicels and joints are somewhat flattened, and have along both the
narrow margins long, white, ascending hairs; callus is short with a ring
of short white hairs.
There are two kinds of _spikelets,_ sessile and pedicelled, and both are
oblong-lanceolate and equal. The _sessile spikelet_ consists of _four_
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, flat and smooth, keels
scabrid with usually a deep dorsal pit, 4-nerved. The _second glume_ is
lanceolate, acute, as long as the first, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is
small, membranous, linear-lanceolate, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is
the dilated base of the awn, awn is about 3/4 inch twisted to half its
length, scabrid, the lower twisted part dark and the upper pale. There
are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_. _Ovary_ has two feathery
_stigmas_. The _pedicelled spikelets_ have only two glumes and contain
three stamens. The _first glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, 5-nerved, pitted
above the middle, with recurved margins and scabrid keels and nerves.
The _second glume_ is lanceolate, membranous, hairy at the top, 3-nerved
with margins infolded; _palea_ is oblanceolate, thinly membranous,
nerveless and ciliated at the top; there are three _stamens_ and two
_lodicules_.
This is a fairly common grass occurring all over the Presidency much
liked by cattle and yields plenty of foliage if properly looked after.
It grows on all kinds of soils, even laterite.
_Distribution._--Throughout India.
[Illustration: Fig. 150.--Andropogon pumilus.]
=Andropogon pumilus, _Roxb._=
It is a tufted annual with numerous radiating branches, growing on all
directions, bent below and erect above; they vary in length from 6
inches to 18 inches, but sometimes when growing under favourable
conditions attain the length of 2-1/2 feet. The stem is slender, green,
or pale reddish in the exposed portions and pale in parts covered by
sheaths slightly flattened, smooth.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, compressed, distinctly keeled. The
_ligule_ is a short, truncate, white, glabrous membrane. The _nodes_ are
glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, finely acuminate, glabrous, but sometimes
somewhat scabrid along the nerves and with scattered long delicate hairs
above especially when young, varying in length from 1 to 7 inches and
1/10 to 1/8 inch in breadth.
The _inflorescence_ consists of paired spikes with very slender
peduncles arising from flattened, glabrous, acuminate spathes, varying
in length from 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches. The _spikes_ are spreading and one
of them always slightly longer than the other, reddish or pale green,
1/2 to 1 inch long; the _rachis_ consists of five to eight flat joints
broadened at the top and ending in a cup, densely ciliate on both the
margins, but hairs on one margin are shorter than those on the other.
Each joint bears a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet.
[Illustration: Fig. 151.--Andropogon pumilus.
1. A portion of the spike to show the arrangement of the spikelets; 1.
the first glume of the sessile spikelet; 2. second glume of the sessile
spikelet; 3 and 4. third and fourth glumes of the sessile spikelet; 5.
anthers, lodicules and the ovary; A, B and C. the three glumes of the
pedicelled spikelets.]
The _sessile spikelet_ is about 3/16 inch with an awn 7/16 inch long.
There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is narrow,
linear, membranous, grooved, finely bicuspidate at the apex, with
incurved margins and two nerves ending in tubercles below. The _second
glume_ is a little longer than the first, narrow, lanceolate,
boat-shaped, thinly coriaceous with membranous margins, 1-nerved and
shortly awned. The _third glume_ is about 2/3 of the second glume in
length, and shorter than the first glume, linear-lanceolate, hyaline,
nerveless or sometimes very obscurely 2-nerved. The _fourth glume_ is
narrow linear, hyaline with two very fine lobes at the apex with an awn
between, 7/16 inch long. _Palea_ is hyaline and very small. _Stamens_
are three, _ovary_ with two long reddish feathery _stigmas_. _Lodicules_
small and cuneate. Grain is long and narrow.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ have only three glumes, and are slightly
shorter than the sessile ones, pedicel is similar to the joint. The
_first glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, thinly coriaceous, distinctly
many-nerved, acuminate, margins infolded and membranous. The _second
glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous and 3-nerved. The
_third glume_ is short, oblong-lanceolate, nerveless or faintly
2-nerved. There are three stamens.
This grass is variable in its size. In dry soils such as laterite soils,
it is a very small plant not exceeding 9 or 10 inches across its spread.
But in good soil and under favourable conditions the plant measures
across 5 or 6 feet. Cattle eat the grass before it flowers and do not
relish it so much when in flower.
A common grass flourishing all over the Presidency.
_Distribution._--Occurs in drier parts throughout India.
[Illustration: Fig. 152.--Andropogon pertusus.]
=Andropogon pertusus, _Willd._=
This grass is perennial. Stems are tufted, very slender, widely creeping
on all sides, purplish, but the flowering branches are erect or
ascending from a geniculate base, leafy at base, the nodes of the
creeping branches rooting and bearing tufts of branches which finally
become independent plants at each node, the creeping branches vary in
length from 1 to 3 feet and the erect ones from 10 to 18 inches or more.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are terete or somewhat compressed, glabrous,
sometimes ciliated near the node and shorter than the internode. The
_ligule_ is a truncate membrane, slightly ciliate or not. _Nodes_ are
bearded.
The _leaf-blades_ in the prostrate branches are crowded, short
linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, soft, shortly hairy along the
nerves, sparsely ciliate near the rounded base, varying in length from 1
to 2 inches and in breadth 1/8 to 1/4 inch; but on the flowering
branches the leaves are longer, sometimes as long as twelve inches with
bigger sheaths.
[Illustration: Fig. 153.--Andropogon pertusus.
1. A portion of a spike; 2. a pair of spikelets; a. sessile and b.
pedicelled; a-1. first glume; a-2. second glume; a-3. third glume; a-4.
fourth glume and awn; a-5. ovary and stamens; a-6. grain; b-1. first
glume of pedicelled spikelet front and back; b-2. second glume front and
back; b-3. third glume.]
The _inflorescence_ consists of three to nine, slender, flexuous, erect,
purplish spikes, 1 to 2 inches long, alternately arranged on a thin,
long, slender, smooth peduncle of about six inches; _rachis_ is slender
and the joints and pedicels are densely silky with long hairs.
The _spikelets_ are in pairs, one sessile and one-pedicelled, both are
equal, purplish or pale. The _sessile spikelet_ consists of four glumes
and contains a complete flower and the callus is short and bearded with
long hairs. The _first glume_ is coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, acute,
truncate or emarginate, slightly hairy, or glabrous with a deep pit
above the middle (sometimes with two or three pits also) 7- to 9-nerved
with a few long hairs below the middle and with margins infolded and
shortly ciliate. The _second glume_ is lanceolate-acuminate and finely
pointed at the tip and the point projecting slightly beyond the first
glume, 3-nerved or 3- to 5-nerved, membranous, slightly hairy or
glabrous, obscurely keeled. The _third glume_ is thin, membranous,
shorter than the second glume, linear-oblong, subobtuse or acute at the
tip and nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is the base of the awn and the
_awn_ is not twisted, bent at about the middle, 1/2 to 2/3 inch long;
there is no palea. _Anthers_ are three and yellow; _stigmas_ purple. The
grain is oblong-obovate, slightly transparent.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are slightly narrower than the sessile,
generally not pitted (though pitted in some plants), and not awned, and
each one consists of three glumes only; the pedicel is more than half as
long as the sessile spikelets. The _first glume_ is slightly hairy,
oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, ciliate at the margins, 7- to 9-, or
13-nerved, generally without pits, but occasionally with one, two or
three pits; the keels are ciliolate throughout the length. The _second
glume_ is membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, with incurved margins,
5-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, glabrous and
thinly ciliate at the tip or not with or without stamens.
This is an excellent fodder grass and it grows quickly and stands
cutting very well. Cattle eat this grass very well.
_Distribution._--This grass is found all over India in the plains or
lower elevations of hills.
=Andropogon squarrosus, _L.f._=
(_Vetiveria zizanioides._)
This is a densely tufted perennial grass with branching root-stocks and
spongy aromatic roots.
The stems are leafy, with equitant, hard, leaf-sheaths at the base,
smooth and polished, solid, 2 to 3-1/2 feet high.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, coriaceous, glabrous, keeled and
compressed. The _ligule_ is a very short membrane.
_Leaf-blades_ are narrowly linear, erect, strongly keeled and flat,
acuminate, glabrous both above and below, very much narrower than the
sheath at the base, 1 to 2 feet by 1/3 to 3/4 inch.
The _panicle_ is conical, erect with branches, fascicled, varying in
length from 4 to 12 inches. The _spikes_ consist of both sessile and
pedicelled spikelets, that are either grey, green, or purplish.
[Illustration: Fig 154.--Andropogon squarrosus.
1. A portion of a branch; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4,
5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of
the sessile spikelet; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8. lodicules,
stamens and the ovary; 9, 10, 11 and 12. glumes of the pedicelled
spikelet; 13. palea of the fourth glume.]
The _sessile spikelets_ are about 1/6 inch long, lanceolate and with a
shortly bearded callus. The _first glume_ is ovate-oblong, thickly
coriaceous, obscurely 2- to 4-nerved (occasionally 5- to 7-nerved),
acute, dorsally flat, with incurved margins and with two rows of
tubercle-based minute prickles or mere excrescences at the sides. The
_second glume_ is as long as the first, oblong, coriaceous, keeled, with
hyaline and ciliolate margins, 1-nerved (sometimes 3-nerved, marginal
faint), and with minute prickles on the keel. The _third glume_ is
broadly oblong, hyaline, nerveless or rarely with two obscure veins
ciliolate at the margins and acute or acuminate. The _fourth glume_ is
shorter than the third, linear-oblong, mucronate or very shortly awned
at the apex, paleate; _palea_ about two-thirds the length of the glume,
lanceolate. _Lodicules_ are two, quadrate and conspicuous though small.
_Styles_ and _stigmas_ short. _Stamens_ are three with yellow anthers.
_Stigmas_ are purple.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are similar to the sessile ones, but are
slightly smaller and the prickles are less prominent. The _fourth glume_
has no mucro or awn and has three stamens.
This grass is fairly abundant in moist situations, in the margins of
tanks and in tankbeds in the Coromandel districts, but in other inland
districts it is not so common. In some places it seems to be cultivated.
This is the _khus-khus_ grass.
_Distribution._--Throughout the plains and lower hills of India, Burma
and Ceylon, also said to occur in Java and Tropical Africa.
=Andropogon asper, _Heyne._=
(_Chrysopogon asper_, Heyne.)
This is a tufted perennial grass. Stems are stout below with distichous
leaves and very slender above, 2 to 3-1/2 feet long.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are distichous and towards the base of the stem are
1/2 inch broad, compressed, keeled and with scattered tubercle-based
hairs. The _ligule_ is a short membrane fringed with close set hairs.
[Illustration: Fig. 155.--Andropogon asper.
Leafy shoot, a bit of the stem with leaf-sheaths and a bit of the leaf.]
The _leaf-blades_ are broad, distinctly linear, acute or acuminate,
coriaceous, glabrous or softly hairy on both the surfaces, with a
slender midrib which bears short stiff tubercle-based hairs all along,
and margins with similar hairs, but a few leaves towards the base are
longer, and varying in length from 12 to 18 inches and in breadth from
1/2 to 3/4 inch.
The _panicle_ is somewhat narrow, 7 to 8 inches long, branches are very
slender, whorled, usually with only one spike consisting of a sessile
and two pedicelled spikelets.
The _sessile spikelets_ are 1/4 inch long, laterally compressed, with a
long callus villous all round, and bisexual. The _first glume_ is
coriaceous, linear-oblong, strongly compressed above and with a few
stiff short bristles beneath the tip. The _second glume_ is linear,
oblong, coriaceous, with an awn as long as itself or shorter, keeled and
with short stiff bristles on the keel and on the sides above the middle.
The _third glume_ is hyaline, narrow, obtuse, shorter than the second,
2-nerved, ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is the linear, hyaline, 3-nerved
base of the awn; the _awn_ is 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches and bent at about
the middle.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are about 1/3 inch, narrowly lanceolate, male
or neuter and with short rusty hairs on both the margins of the pedicel
and a semi-circular tip. The _first glume_ is thin, 2-toothed or not at
the tip, awned, _awn_ being as long as itself or longer, 7-nerved,
ciliate at the sides from base to tip; the nerves are either equidistant
or the lateral nerves nearer the margin. The _second glume_ is
lanceolate-acuminate, not awned, 3-nerved, margins hyaline, and
ciliolate. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved,
ciliolate. The _fourth glume_ is linear or linear-lanceolate, hyaline,
nerveless or 1-nerved.
[Illustration: Fig. 156.--Andropogon asper.
1. Spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume,
respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. the ovary, lodicules and
stamens; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume,
respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 11. callus of the spike.]
This grass grows abundantly on the sides of the Kambakkam Drug,
Chingleput district, and in Penchalkonda, Nellore district, and seems to
be an endemic species. It is usually confined to the hill sides and not
found in the plains. This grass is very closely allied to _Andropogon
Wightianus_ and it differs from it only in the general habit of the
plant and in having bristles on the leaf-sheaths. On the whole this is a
coarser and larger plant than _A. Wightianus_.
_Distribution._--Kambakkam Drug in the Chingleput district and
Penchalkonda in Nellore district.
=Andropogon Wightianus, _Steud._=
(_Chrysopogon Wightianus_, Nees.)
This is a perennial. Stems are erect or ascending from a creeping
root-stock, varying in height from 2 to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is flattened, softly hairy or glabrous, often ciliated
near the mouth. The _ligule_ is a fringe of very short hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrowly or rarely broadly linear, obtuse or acute
and abruptly mucronate, or narrowly drawn into a point glabrous or
pubescent, margins shortly ciliate.
The _panicle_ is narrow, 3 to 6 inches long, peduncle smooth below but
thinly pubescent above, lower branches long, few in a whorl; rachis is
very slender, angular, glabrous or hairy. The _spikes_ are solitary and
each one consists of one sessile and two pedicelled spikelets. The
callus is long and densely bearded with brown hairs.
[Illustration: Fig. 157.--Andropogon Wightianus.
1. A spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. lodicules, stamens and
the ovary; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet.]
_Sessile spikelets_ are bisexual, sub-cylindric about 1/4 inch long.
There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, laterally
compressed, obscurely 4-nerved, glabrous below, hispid near the apex,
minutely 2-toothed or not at the apex, not awned or rarely with a short
awn. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, distinctly awned, the _awn_
being as long as the glume or longer, hispid above and at the sides
also. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved ciliate. The
_fourth glume_ is narrow with hyaline margins, with an _awn_ 2 to 3
inches long; _awn_ is hispid below, twisted and geniculate at and less
hairy above the middle. Stamens are three. Styles are two and feathery.
Lodicules are very small.
_Pedicelled spikelets_ are male or neuter, flattened, hairy, rarely
glabrous. The pedicels are half as long or slightly longer than the
sessile spikelet, truncate or semi-circular at the top, and with brown
villous hairs along the margin. There are four _glumes_. The _first
glume_ is about 3/8 inch, ciliate, along the inflexed margin, 7-nerved,
awned; _awn_ equal to or longer than the glume. The _second glume_ is as
long as the first, shortly awned or acuminate, 3-nerved, ciliate. The
_third glume_ is hyaline, oblong, 2-nerved, sparsely ciliate. The
_fourth glume_ is narrow, ciliate, nerveless or rarely 1-nerved, erose
or bifid at the top. _Anthers_ three or more.
This grass grows on the plains as well as on the hills. It is very
closely allied to _Andropogon asper, Heyne_, and it is very difficult to
distinguish them. _Andropogon Wightianus_ is somewhat smaller compared
with _Andropogon asper_, and the tubercle-based bristles on the
leaf-sheaths, so characteristic of _A. asper_, is absent.
_Distribution._--Madras, Chingleput district, Kodaikanal and the
Nilgiris.
=Andropogon monticola, _Schult._=
(_Chrysopogon monticola._)
This is a perennial grass.
The stems are usually slender, densely tufted, erect, simple, or
branched, leafy especially at the base, varying in height from 1 to 3
feet.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are sparsely hairy or glabrous, the lower somewhat
compressed and the upper terete. The _ligule_ is a short, ciliated
membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, linear, acute, rigid, flat, glaucous, smooth
or scaberulous, with margins scabrid and ciliated with tubercle-based
hairs especially towards the base, and varying in length from 2 to 15
inches.
The _inflorescence_ is an open panicle, ovate or oblong, varying in
length from 2 to 5 inches; the _rachis_ is slender, smooth or
scaberulous, the branches are capillary, whorled and spreading, tip
oblique, bearded and bearing a single sessile and two pedicellate
spikelets.
[Illustration: Fig. 158.--Andropogon monticola.
1. Sessile and pedicellate spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second,
third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6.
anthers, ovary and lodicules; A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4. the glumes of the
pedicelled spikelet; A-5. lodicules of the pedicelled spikelet.]
The _sessile spikelets_ are bisexual, about 1/4 inch or less, with a
long callus bearded on one side with long rusty hairs. There are four
_glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, linear,
complicate, 2-toothed at the tip and with short bristles towards the
apex, 4-veined. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate,
much broader than the first, ciliate with long rufous bristles on the
keel, shortly toothed at the apex with an _awn_ about 1/3 of an inch and
with broadly hyaline margins. The _third glume_ is hyaline,
narrow-oblong, ciliate and obtuse. The _fourth glume_ is narrow, oblong,
hyaline with an _awn_ nearly an inch long. There are three _stamens_ and
two _lodicules_. The _stigmas_ are long and feathery.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are as long as the sessile and the pedicels
are flattened and with long rufous hairs on both the margins. There are
four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, acute and awned between
two teeth, 7-nerved and scaberulous. The _second glume_ is lanceolate,
acuminate, with thinly ciliate hyaline margins, 3-nerved. The _third
glume_ is shorter than the second, narrow, hyaline, ciliate at the
margins, 2-nerved. The _fourth glume_ also is small, hyaline, ciliate,
and 1-nerved. There are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_.
This grass is found growing all over the Presidency on the plains and
even on low hills. It grows into a tall plant in rich soils and remains
stunted in poor, dry and rocky soils. Cattle eat this grass.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon and in Africa.
=Andropogon caricosus, _L._=
This is a perennial grass more or less tufted in habit and closely
allied to _Andropogon annulatus_, Forsk.
Stems are erect or decumbent below or ascending from a creeping base,
rooting at the nodes, smooth, glabrous and much branched, varying in
height, from 1 to 2 feet; branches are short, slender and sometimes even
capillary, with _nodes_ bearded or not in branches ending in solitary
spikes, and completely glabrous when they end in binate spikes.
_The leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous, rather compressed, striate, shorter
than the internodes. _Ligule_ is membranous, short, very finely
ciliolate or not.
_The leaf-blade_ is linear, finely acuminate, sparsely hairy, sometimes
with tubercle-based hairs, becoming glabrous when old with scaberulous
margins 2 to 8 inches by 1/10 to 1/6 inch, base rounded mostly with a
few long hairs.
[Illustration: Fig. 159.--Andropogon caricosus.
1 and 2. Front and back view of a bit of spike; 3. a sessile and a
pedicelled spikelet; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. awn representing the fourth
glume; 8. stamens, lodicules and the ovary; 9. the first glume of the
pedicelled spikelet.]
_The spikes_ are either binate or solitary varying in length from 1 to 2
inches, joints and pedicels about 1/3 as long as the sessile spikelets,
slightly angular or flat, ciliate along one side with white hairs;
peduncle is slender, pale or purple, pubescent or glabrous just below
the spike.
_The spikelets_ are about 1/8 inch, imbricate, a sessile and a stalked
one from the top of each joint, greenish or purple. The _sessile
spikelet_ contains a bisexual flower and consists of four glumes. The
callus is short, and shortly hairy below. The _first glume_ is somewhat
chartaceous, obovate-oblong, obtuse or truncate, 7- to 11-nerved, margin
slightly folded, keel shortly rigidly ciliate towards the apex, and
thinly ciliate below, dorsal surfaces sparsely hairy below the middle.
The _second glume_ is chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, equal to or
slightly longer than the first glume but narrower, 3-nerved, margin
infolded, thinly shortly ciliate, dorsally glabrous, shining. The _third
glume_ is hyaline, ovate-oblong, acute, nerveless, margins sparsely
ciliate or not. The _fourth glume_ is the base of the awn, 3/4 to 1
inch, scaberulous. _Stamens_ are three with yellow or purple tinged
anthers, _ovary_ oblong with two feathery _stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are
two, cuneate.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are either male or neuter and consist of four
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, obovate-oblong, obtuse,
many-nerved (thirteen or more), thinly ciliate with long hairs and with
a few rigid short hairs towards the apex; margins are slightly infolded,
dorsally sparsely hairy without. The _second glume_ is membranous,
ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved (occasionally 4-nerved), margins are
thinly ciliate and infolded. The _third glume_ is hyaline, nerveless and
ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is hyaline, nerveless, linear and oblong,
glabrous, small, the apex is narrowed and deeply bifid. There are three
_stamens_ and two _lodicules_.
This is a common grass flourishing on the bunds of paddy fields and in
sheltered places where there is sufficient moisture in the soil. But
this is less common than _A. annulatus_, Forsk. In black cotton soil at
Bantanahal in Bellary district it grows to a height of 4 or 5 feet.
_Distribution._--Plains and low hills throughout India and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 160.--Andropogon annulatus.
1. Full plant; 2. base of the leaf and ligule.]
=Andropogon annulatus, _Forsk._=
This is a densely tufted perennial grass.
The main stem is underground, rhizomiferous, and covered with scale
leaves; branches are many arising in tufts, leafy, procumbent at base
and afterwards geniculately ascending and ending in inflorescence,
occasionally rooting at the nodes and varying in length from 2 to 3
feet. The internodes vary from 1-1/2 to 4 inches, pale or purplish,
slightly flattened, smooth and glabrous.
The _leaf-sheath_ is terete, glabrous, shining, green or purplish,
closed, with margins where separate ciliated and profusely so at the tip
especially the outer or both. The _ligule_ is membranous truncate,
glabrous, about 1/16 inch in height. _Nodes_ are purple and softly
villous.
[Illustration: Fig. 161.--Andropogon annulatus.
1. Front and back views of a portion of the spike; 2. a sessile and a
pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. the ovary,
stamens and lodicules; 8, 9 and 10. the glumes of the pedicelled
spikelet.]
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, acuminate, scabrid, sparsely
hairy, becoming glabrous except at the base and with tubercle-based
hairs on the upper surface.
_The spikes_ vary in number from two to nine, erect or slightly
spreading, subdigitately fascicled, pale when young and pinkish or brown
when old, varying in length from 1 to 2-1/2 inches. The stalk of the
whole inflorescence is long, slender, smooth and glabrous. The
_peduncle_ of the spikes is from 1/8 to 1/6 of an inch long, thin,
slender, glabrous with swollen bases and with a ring of hairs at the
node. _Joints_ of the _rachis_ and the _pedicels_ are slightly
flattened, ciliated along the narrow edges; the _pedicels_ of the
stalked spikelets are half as long as the sessile spikelets. The
spikelets are one sessile and one pedicelled and imbricating on the
rachis.
The _sessile spikelet_ is as long as the stalked or a little less, with
a thick callus, shortly bearded at the base or sometimes glabrous and
consists of four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is elliptic-oblong or
oblong, obtuse or truncate, irregularly 2- or 3-toothed, 5- to 9-nerved,
sparsely villous with long hairs and margins slightly infolded. The
_second glume_ is smaller than the first glume, acute, membranous,
3-nerved and keeled, the margins are ciliate and infolded. The _third
glume_ is hyaline, linear, acute, or obtuse, nerveless sparsely hairy at
the tip, very much shorter than the second glume. The _fourth glume_ is
an _awn_ with a linear hyaline base, erect, about an inch long.
_Stamens_ are three, _ovary_ is oblong with two feathery, dark purple
_stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are two, cuneate.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are male and consist of only three glumes.
The _first glume_ is elliptic, oblong, irregularly obtuse, about
11-nerved, margins slightly infolded with long pilose hairs throughout,
more along the margin. The _second glume_ is a little smaller, 3-nerved,
sparsely hairy only along the marginal nerves, folded inwards, and
slightly keeled. The _third glume_ is shorter than the second, hyaline,
nerveless, narrow-lanceolate, acute; _stamens_ are three, with green
anthers, purple-dotted. _Lodicules_ are two, broad and cuneate.
This grass is found flourishing all over India and grows in cultivated
fields and gardens and likes sheltered places. This yields a
considerable amount of fodder and stands cutting well.
_Distribution._ Throughout India in the hills and the plains.
[Illustration: Fig. 162.--Andropogon contortus.]
=Andropogon contortus, _L._=
(_Heteropogon contortus_, Beauv.)
This is a tufted perennial.
The stems are erect or slightly decumbent below, slender, rather
compressed towards the base, leafy at the base, simple or branched,
densely tufted and varying in length from 1 to 3 or 4 feet.
[Illustration: Fig. 163.--Andropogon contortus.
1. Lower pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 2. upper pair of
sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second,
third and the fourth glume, respectively, of pedicelled spikelets; 7, 8,
9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively,
of the sessile spikelet; 11. ovary.]
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth or sparsely hairy, compressed and shortly
auricled or not at the mouth. The _ligule_ is short, truncate and
ciliolate.
The _leaf-blades_ are linear, acute or abruptly acuminate, flat, rigid,
sparingly ciliate above, with tubercle-based hairs towards the base,
scaberulous throughout, and 2 to 12 inches long or more, 1/10 to 1/5
inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of a solitary spike with closely
imbricating spikelets.
The _spikelets_ are all on one side, and the lower two to six pairs of
pedicelled and sessile spikelets are all males. The _sessile spikelets_
are all female and awned, except the few lower which are male and
awnless, 1/4 inch long. The _callus_ is long, acute, bearded with
reddish-brown hairs. There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first
glume_ is narrow, linear-oblong, truncate or rounded, somewhat brown,
many-nerved, hispid, with incurved margins and membranous tip. The
_second glume_ is linear, obtuse, coriaceous, dark-brown, hispidulous,
3-nerved with incurved margins. The _third glume_ is oblong, hyaline,
thin, nerveless, short and truncate. The _fourth glume_ is reduced to an
awn, 3 inches or more in length. The _ovary_ is linear with two long
_stigmas_.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are somewhat longer than the sessile 1/3 to
1/2 inch, with very short pedicels. The _first glume_ is lanceolate,
obliquely twisted, hispid at the back with long bulbous-based hairs,
margins more or less unequally winged. The _second glume_ is oblong
lanceolate, acuminate, 5-nerved, thinly ciliate with hyaline margins.
The _third glume_ is oblong, hyaline, 1-nerved and ciliate. The _fourth
glume_ is obovate-oblong or oblong, hyaline, ciliate, nerveless. There
are three _stamens_.
This grass though coarse forms very good hay if cut before it flowers.
The only objection against this grass is the presence of the troublesome
awns which get twisted together like the strands of a rope. This is the
_spear grass_ of the Anglo-Indians. It grows all over the Presidency and
is a troublesome weed when in flower.
_Distribution._--All over the Presidency and India. Common in all
tropical countries.
=Andropogon Schoenanthus, _L. Var. caesius._=
(_Cymbopogon caesius_, Stapf.)
This is a perennial grass with stout or slender, erect stems rising from
a woody base, leafy upward, simple or branched.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth and glabrous. The _ligule_ is an
oblong-ovate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is long, narrow or broad, narrowly linear-lanceolate,
finely acuminate, glaucous especially beneath, thinly coriaceous,
glabrous on both the surfaces, base rounded or cordate and amplexicaul,
6 to 10 inches by 1/6 to 1/3 inch.
The _panicle_ is elongate, leafy, narrow, dense or interrupted, compound
or decompound, 1 to 2 feet long; bracts are lanceolate, spathiform,
finely acuminate, glabrous, varying in length from 1 to 1-1/2 inches,
and with hyaline margins; the proper bracts are as long as the spikes or
longer.
[Illustration: Fig. 164.--Andropogon Schoenanthus.
1. A sessile and two pedicelled spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first,
second, third and fourth glume of the sessile spikelet, respectively; 6.
ovary; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelets in order.]
The _spikes_ are unequal, 1/2 to 2/3 inch long, one 3- to 4-jointed and
the other 4- to 6-jointed; the joints and pedicels are narrowly clavate,
half as long as the sessile spikelets, tips dilated and toothed, margins
villously ciliate, with long hairs.
The _spikelets_ are binate, one sessile and the other pedicelled.
The _sessile spikelets_ in the upper part of the spike are bisexual,
lanceolate, 1/6 inch long and those in the lower part of the spike are
shorter, obtuse, male. The callus is short and bearded. There are four
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is ovate or obovate-oblong, dorsally flat or
nearly so, with a deep narrow-longitudinal median furrow usually below
the middle and answering to a ridge on the ventral face, obtuse or
2-toothed at the apex, margined above the middle, with a hyaline,
narrow, finely denticulate wing, 2-nerved or nerveless. The _second
glume_ is lanceolate, cymbiform, acute or acuminate, 3-nerved, margins
hyaline, ciliate, as long as the first chartaceous and the keel with a
serrulate wing above the middle. The _third glume_ is linear oblong,
hyaline, obtuse, ciliate, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is the narrowly
winged 2-lobed base of the awn, lobes are lanceolate erect and _palea_
of the fourth glume is minute. _Lodicules_ are cuneate. _Stamens_ are
three.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse,
glabrous and male. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is
glabrous or rarely puberulous, margins incurved, obtuse, 9- to
11-nerved. The _second glume_ is ovate, acute, 3-nerved. The _third
glume_ is oblong or linear-oblong, hyaline, apex rounded, ciliate and
faintly 2-nerved.
This grass grows all over the Presidency in open dry situations and is
very widely distributed.
_Distribution._--Throughout India--westward to tropical Africa.
29. Anthistiria, _L. f._
(_Themeda_, Forsk.)
These are tall grasses, annual or perennial. Leaves are usually long and
narrow. The inflorescence consists of racemes or panicles of fascicled
spikes in the axils of spathiform bracts. The spikelets vary in number
from six to eleven in a cluster, the four lowest being male or neuter,
and forming an involucre with whorled or superposed pairs round either
1-sessile bisexual spikelet with two pedicelled spikelets or two
superposed bisexual, the lower with one pedicelled, the upper with two.
The involucral spikelets are male or neuter, the largest, and consist of
three glumes. The first glume is oblong, lanceolate, dorsally flattened,
many-nerved, margins narrowly incurved and keels narrowly winged. The
second glume is membranous, lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved, with ciliate
margins. The third glume is hyaline, smaller than the second, 1-nerved
or this glume may be absent, stamens have large anthers. The pedicelled
spikelets are similar to the involucral in every respect but smaller,
male or neuter, but the first glume is not winged on the keels. The
bisexual (or female) spikelets are smaller than the involucrant
spikelets, linear-oblong, subterete, obtuse with a rigidly bearded
callus. There are four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is
terete, or dorsally compressed or channelled, coriaceous and at length
hardened, margins incurved, dark brown to almost black when old. The
second glume is as long as the first, linear, dorsally chartaceous, with
broadly incurved membranous margins, 3-nerved. The third glume is very
small, hyaline, 1-nerved, epaleate. The fourth glume is the flattened
base of the awn, epaleate. The lodicules are two, cuneate. Anthers are
rather small. Styles are laterally or terminally exserted. Grain is
narrow, obovoid, biconvex, with two grooves on the anterior side and
with a long embryo.
=Anthistiria tremula, _Nees_=.
This is an annual or perennial. Stems are stout or slender, erect or
ascending from a creeping root-stock, simple or branched, 1 to 4 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, compressed. The _ligule_ is a narrow
membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, rigid, erect, acuminate with a
setaceous tip, nearly smooth, varying in length from 6 to 20 inches and
in breadth from 1/6 to 2/3 inch.
The _inflorescence_ is an elongate panicle, 1 to 2 feet long, consisting
of rather distant fascicles of spikes and bracts on capillary, flexuous
peduncles; the spikes are sub-flabelliform or sub-globose, 1/2 to 1-1/2
inches broad, sometimes reduced to a few spikelets and bracts; the outer
bracts are longer than the fascicles, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, glabrous
or hairy with ordinary or tubercle-based hairs; proper bracts are
lanceolate, acute, compressed, glabrous or hairy with membranous
margins.
[Illustration: Fig. 165.--Anthistiria tremula.
1. Fascicles of three spikes with the outer bracts and proper bracts; 2.
a spike without its proper bract; 3. the pedicelled and the bisexual
spikelets without the involucral spikelets; 4, the first glume of the
involucral spikelet with one wing only; 4a. the first glume of the
involucral spikelet with wings to both the keels; 5 and 6. the second
and the third glume of the involucral spikelet; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes
of the bisexual spikelet; 10, 11, 12 and 13. glumes of the bisexual
spikelet; 14. ovary.]
The _involucral spikelets_ are the longest, in contiguous superposed
pairs, about 1/2 inch long, and the rachis of the spike is produced
beyond these spikelets. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is
linear-lanceolate, acute, covered with long, often tubercle-based hairs,
many-nerved, margins narrowly incurved, and with narrow wings, on both
the keels in one of each of the pairs of spikelets and on one keel only
in the other of each of these pairs. The _second glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate, acute, margins thin and membranous, inflexed, ciliate
above the middle, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is as long as the second,
hyaline, very narrowly linear, 1-nerved. _Stamens_ are three and the
_lodicules_ are cuneate.
The _pedicelled spikelets_ are usually smaller than the involucral
spikelets and similar to them. The _first glume_ is winged on one side
in the lowest spikelet and without wings in the others.
The _bisexual or (female) spikelets_ are linear-oblong, obtuse, and the
callus with reddish hairs. The _first glume_ is scabrid, deeply
channelled at the back, nerveless, narrowly truncate at the tip, and
hispid near the apex. The _second glume_ is as long as the first,
linear, hyaline, 3-nerved, chartaceous at the back with the sides
membranous and incurved. The _third glume_ is small, hyaline, 1-nerved
and epaleate. The _fourth glume_ is the narrowed base of the awn which
is 1/2 inch long.
This grass is very common in marshes and in wet low-lying places on the
hills and occurs also in the plains in Malabar and South Kanara.
_Distribution._--The Deccan Peninsula, from the Konkan and Central
Provinces southward, and Ceylon.
30. Iseilema, _Hack._
These grasses are either annual or perennial, with slender freely
branching stems. The inflorescence is a panicle consisting of groups of
dissimilar spikelets with compressed, boat-shaped spathes on peduncles.
Spikelets are of two kinds, sessile and pedicelled. Each peduncle bears
4-pedicelled male or neuter spikelets in a regular whorl forming an
involucel around 1 or 2 sessile bisexual spikelets and 2- or
3-pedicelled male spikelets. Involucral spikelets have 3 or 2 glumes,
the first two glumes are somewhat similar, the first 3- to 5-nerved and
the second 3-nerved, the third glume is one nerved and hyaline.
Lodicules are cuneate and retuse. Anthers yellow dotted or tinged
violet. Pedicelled spikelets inside the involucral similar to those of
the involucral. Sessile spikelets are bisexual or sometimes female,
4-glumed and awned.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Panicle slender, lax; involucral spikelets
1/6 inch; pedicel slender, terete 1. I. laxum.
Panicle crowded, leafy; involucral spikelets
1/6 inch or more, very strongly nerved;
pedicel harder, firmer and flattened 2. I. anthephoroides.
[Illustration: Fig. 166.--Iseilema laxum.]
=Iseilema laxum, _Hack._=
It is a tufted perennial grass with a stout, short, creeping root-stock.
Stems are slender, branched, ascending, 6 to 24 inches long.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are somewhat loose, glabrous. The _ligule_ is a
shortly ciliate membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, obtuse, glabrous and ciliate near the base,
2 to 6 inches long. The leaf-blades in the upper portions of the
branches are smaller.
[Illustration: Fig. 167.--Iseilema laxum.
1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes. 2. a cluster consisting of the
involucral spikelets and three inner spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets
consisting of one sessile female or bisexual and 2-pedicelled male
spikelets; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively, of the involucral spikelet.]
The _inflorescence_ is a narrow long panicle bearing clusters of
spikelets with spathes on slender peduncles, the outer spathes are
narrow-lanceolate, glabrous or with a few hairs near the margin, 1/4 to
1 inch long; inner spathes are lanceolate, smaller with membranous
margins. Each cluster consists of an involucel of 4 pedicelled spikelets
forming a true whorl around 2 pedicelled and 1 sessile spikelets or 3
pedicelled and 2 sessile spikelets. The involucral spikelets are male,
oblong-lanceolate, acute, with short flattened pedicels, bearded at the
base, and have three glumes. The _first glume_ is oblong-lanceolate,
acute, 5- to 7-nerved and ciliate. The _second glume_ is
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, equal or slightly shorter than the first,
glabrous, 3-nerved and with infolded margins. The _third glume_ is
hyaline, linear, short, irregularly toothed at the apex. The inner
pedicelled spikelets are similar to the involucral spikelets, but the
third glume is very narrow, linear. The sessile spikelets are female,
rarely bisexual, narrowly lanceolate, 1/5 inch long, glabrous and have
four glumes. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, chartaceous, truncate or
2-fid at the apex, faintly 5-nerved, with a few long hairs or glabrous,
and with margins scaberulous towards the tip to about one-third the
length of the glume. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, acuminate,
glabrous, sub-chartaceous, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline,
nerveless, apex irregularly cut, short; sometimes this glume is wanting.
The _fourth glume_ is a very slender awn of about 1/2 inch.
[Illustration: Fig. 168.--Iseilema laxum.
1. Inner spikelets consisting of 2-pedicelled male and two female or
bisexual spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the
fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelets; 6. ovary; 7, 8 and
9. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the inner
pedicelled spikelet.]
This is a widely spread common grass growing in somewhat moist
situations. This is the well-known Chengali gaddi of the Telugu
districts.
_Distribution._--All over Madras and Bombay presidencies.
[Illustration: Fig. 169.--Iseilema anthephoroides.]
=Iseilema anthephoroides, _Hack._=
This is a perennial grass closely resembling _Iseilema laxum_ in its
habit, but shorter, stouter and branching more freely. The leaf is
similar to that of _I. laxum_ in all its parts.
[Illustration: Fig. 170.--Iseilema anthephoroides.
1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes; 2. the involucral and the inner
spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets; 4 and 5. the glumes of the involucral
spikelets; 6, 7, 8 and 9. the four glumes, respectively, of the sessile
spikelet; 10. ovary; 11 and 12. glumes of the inner pedicelled
spikelets.]
The _pedicelled spikelets_ of the involucel have firmer harder, shorter
and broader pedicels, thickly bearded and consist of two glumes only.
The _first glume_ is very strongly 5-nerved, coriaceous,
oblong-lanceolate; with scaberulous infolded margins, with long cilia.
The _second glume_ is lanceolate, thin, 3-nerved, glabrous. The inner
_pedicelled spikelets_ are similar to the pedicelled spikelets of the
involucel. The _sessile spikelet_ has four glumes. The _first glume_ is
elliptic-lanceolate, apex drawn into a long narrow strip ending in two
teeth or truncate, sparsely ciliate at the margins about the middle,
faintly 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is shorter than the first,
lanceolate, drawn out into an acuminate point at the apex, hairy at the
back. The _third glume_ is hyaline, short, oblong, apex broad and
irregularly toothed, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is an awn.
This is very common in the Deccan districts and grows on all kinds of
soils. This is a good fodder grass.
_Distribution._--Very common in the Ceded districts and Nellore.