Series II--Poaceae.
TRIBES V AND VI--AGROSTIDEAE AND CHLORIDEAE.
The tribe =Agrostideae= is a very small one. It is represented in South
India only by a few genera. The spikelets are usually 1-flowered and the
rachilla is jointed at the base just above the empty glumes and it is
not produced beyond the flowering glume. There are only three glumes in
the spikelet.
Sub. Tribe 1. =Stipeae=.--The spikelets are narrow and long, panicles and
the flowering glumes are rigid or hard, and awned.
The third glume is narrow, long, awn 3-fid 31. Aristida.
Sub. Tribe 2. =Euagrosteae=.--The spikelets are very small, in open or
contracted panicles.
The third glume is thin and membranous, awnless. 32. Sporobolus.
=Chlorideae= is also a small tribe with about ten genera, most of them
being very common in Southern India. The spikelets are unilaterally
biseriate on the rachis which is not jointed at the base. There are one
or more flowers in the spikelet, all or only the lowest being bisexual.
The rachilla is jointed just above the empty glumes and it is produced
or not beyond the flowering glumes. The inflorescence consists of
spikes, or spiciform racemes, solitary or digitate, and in some it is
paniculate.
Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glume.
Spikes usually solitary.
Spikelets 1- to 2-flowered, pedicelled and
in deciduous clusters, awned. 33. Gracilea.
Spikelets 1- to 2-flowered, not clustered
awned. 34. Enteropogon.
Spikes or spiciform racemes digitate or whorled.
Spikelets 1-flowered and with three
glumes, awnless. 35. Cynodon.
Rachilla not produced beyond the flowering glumes.
Spikelets 2- or more-flowered, glumes
five or more, awned, upper flowers
imperfect. 36. Chloris.
Spikelets 3- to 6-flowered, densely crowded,
awnless. 37. Eleusine.
Spikes or spiciform spikes racemed,
spikelets 2- to 3-flowered, 4- to 5-glumed,
awned. 38. Dinebra.
Spikes panicled, filiform, spikelets very
minute one-or more-flowered, glumes
awnless. 39. Leptochloa.
31. Aristida, _L._
These are tufted, annual or perennial grasses. Spikelets are panicled,
1-flowered, laterally compressed, with the rachilla jointed above the
empty glumes, 3-glumed. The first and the second glumes are narrow,
keeled, 1-nerved, awned or not and persistent. The third glume is very
narrow, cylindric, coriaceous, convolute, acuminate, 3-nerved, tip
produced into a long 3-partite, naked or hairy awn twisted below the
branches, with a minute palea which is convolute round the ovary.
Lodicules are two, linear or oblong-linear and hyaline. Stamens are
three. Styles are distinct. Grain is long, narrow and cylindrical.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Awn tripartite from the base and not articulate
with the top of the glume, persistent and
glabrous.
Annual.
Glumes I and II not awned.
Awn without any column and branched
from the base. 1. A. Adscenscionis.
Awn with a short column and with
shorter branches. 4. A. mutabilis.
Perennial.
Panicle cylindric, glumes I and II
awned; callus with white silky hairs. 2. A. setacea.
Panicle effuse, glumes I and II awned
or not; callus naked. 3. A. Hystrix.
Awn with a long column, tripartite at the top.
Annual; panicle lax, narrow; glumes I
and II awned. 5. A. funiculata.
[Illustration: Fig. 171.--Aristida Adscenscionis.]
=Aristida Adscenscionis, _L._=
This grass is usually an annual becoming a perennial under favourable
conditions. Stems are slender, sometimes even filiform, erect, or
ascending, simple or branched, varying in length from 9 inches to 3
feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, thinly striate. The _ligule_ is a row of
fine short hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, linear, tapering to a fine point, convolute
in bud, scabrid above and smooth below, with a minutely serrate, very
narrow, hyaline margin, 1 to 10 inches long and 1/12 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ is a lax, narrow, subsecund panicle, varying in
length from 3 to 12 inches, and with a slender glabrous peduncle; the
main rachis is filiform and glabrous; branches are either solitary or
binate, unequal; branched either from the middle or the base; _pedicels_
are short and capillary.
[Illustration: Fig. 172.--Aristida Adscenscionis.
1. A spikelet; 2. first and second glumes; 3. palea; 4. lodicules,
stamens and ovary; 5. third glume with awns; 6. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are narrow, erect, green, occasionally also purplish,
1/4 to 1/3 inch long exclusive of the awn. There are three _glumes_. The
_first glume_ is linear-lanceolate, acute, membranous, 1-nerved with a
scaberulous keel, 1/16 to 3/16 inch long. The _second glume_ is longer
than the first, linear-lanceolate, acute, occasionally 2-toothed and
apiculate, 1-veined about 1/4 inch long and with a smooth keel. The
_third glume_ is as long as the second or slightly longer, laterally
compressed, 3-nerved, smooth but scaberulous along the keel, awned;
there are three scabrid _awns_, varying in length from 1/2 to 3/4 inch,
continuous with the glume without a column, not jointed, and the middle
awn is longer than the lateral ones; the callus is long, pointed and
villous. There is a minute _palea. Lodicules_ are two, similar to the
palea in size, linear oblong. _Anthers_ are yellow dotted with purple.
The _ovary_ is oblong linear with two white feathery _stigmas_.
Grain is long and linear.
This when young is eaten by cattle, but they do not like it when in
flower.
_Distribution._--Occurs all over the Presidency in the plains and the
low hills.
=Aristida setacea, _Retz._=
This is a tall coarse perennial grass with hard, smooth and polished,
stout, erect simple or branched stems, 3 to 4 feet. Roots are stout and
wiry.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, cylindrical. The _ligule_ is a row of
short hairs. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, coriaceous, convolute, glabrous, strongly
nerved, 6 to 12 inches long.
The _inflorescence_ is a contracted _panicle_ varying from 6 to 18
inches with short, erect or subsecund branches.
[Illustration: Fig. 173.--Aristida setacea.
1. The spikelet; 2 and 3. the first and the second glume; 4. the lower
portion of the third glume, anther, ovary and the lodicules; 5. palea of
the third glume.]
The _spikelets_ vary from 1/2 to 2/3 inch excluding the awn. There are
three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is about 3/8 inch long,
lanceolate-linear, narrowed into a short awn. The _second glume_ is
longer than the first, 1-nerved and minutely 2-toothed or notched at the
base of the awn. The _third glume_ is 5/8 inch long, 3-nerved, nearly
smooth. The callus of the third glume is long, densely silkily hairy
with three awns not jointed at the base with the glume; _awns_ about 1
inch or more. _Lodicules_ are ovate-lanceolate, fairly large. Grain is
narrow, cylindrical.
This grass grows in open dry situations in many parts of the Presidency.
_Distribution._--All over India.
=Aristida Hystrix, _Linn. f._=
This is a diffuse perennial grass with a creeping root-stock, with
fairly stout sometimes proliferous freely branching stems; branches are
stiff, erect, inclined or prostrate, varying in length from 6 inches to
2 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and cylindric. The _ligule_ is a ridge of
close-set hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blades_ are quite flat, narrowly lanceolate-linear very finely
acuminate, glabrous on both the surfaces but with tufts of hairs on both
sides at the base where the blade joins the sheath, prominently nerved;
margin is even and without any hyaline border, the blade varies in
length from 2 to 9 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 174.--Aristida Hystrix.
1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively; 4a. the third glume and its awns; 5. palea of the third
glume; 6. lodicules, anthers and the ovary.]
The _inflorescence_ is an effuse panicle, as long as broad, varying in
length from 4 to 10 inches; the main rachis is stout, finely scabrid,
with stiff slender, horizontally spreading or reclining branches that
arise in pairs from the nodes, the branches have swollen bases at the
nodes and they are covered by long hairs.
The _spikelets_ are 3/8 inch long excluding the awn. There are three
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, lanceolate, acuminate and
terminating in an awn, 1-nerved, 3/8 to 1/2 inch including the awn, with
the keel very finely scabrous. The _second glume_ is longer than the
first, chartaceous, lanceolate, terminating in an awn, 1/2 to 3/4 inch
long including the awn, with a smooth keel. The callus of the third
glume is short, pointed and villous. The _third glume_ is chartaceous
finely scabrid 1/4 to 3/8 inch long excluding the awn, 3-nerved, 3-lobed
at the apex and the lobes becoming awns; _awns_ are 1 inch long, the
middle one being a little longer. The outer margin of the glume is
broader than the inner margin and is rounded at the apex at the base of
the awn. There are three _stamens_ and the anthers are pale or purplish.
The style branches are purplish. The _lodicules_ are 1/8 inch long
obliquely lanceolate.
This grass is fairly common in all open dry situations throughout this
Presidency.
_Distribution._--Deccan Peninsula and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 175.--Aristida mutabilis.]
=Aristida mutabilis, _Trin. & Rup._=
This is a small tufted annual grass with simple or branched slender
stems spreading at the base, and sometimes geniculately ascending and
rooting at the lower nodes, 6 to 12 inches long. The _nodes_ have dark
purple rings when dry.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, with membranous margins and long hairs at
the mouth. The _ligule_ is a row of short dense hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is slender, convolute, rigid, curved, and the tip
ending in a sharp point, 1 to 3 inches long.
The _inflorescence_ is a narrow panicle, cylindric, with short crowded
branches, some of them remote lower down, peduncle is smooth, and rachis
smooth or scaberulous; branches and pedicels are scaberulous.
[Illustration: Fig. 176.--Aristida mutabilis.
1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively; 5. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are shortly pedicellate, pale-green about 1/4 inch long
exclusive of the awn. There are three glumes. The _first glume_ is
membranous, oblong-lanceolate, shortly awned, 1-nerved, keeled and
scaberulous on the keel and the sides. The _second glume_ is narrower
and longer than the first, shortly awned 1-nerved, 2-toothed, obscurely
scaberulous and encircling the third glume. The _third glume_ is narrow,
convolute, scaberulous, 3-nerved awned with a shortly bearded callus,
the awn is three branched articulate to the short column at the base
about 3/4 inch long with the middle branch slightly longer than the
other two; _palea_ is minute. _Lodicules_ are two and narrow. The grain
is narrow as long as the glume and grooved.
This resembles in general habit and appearance _Aristida Adscenscionis_,
but it is not so widely distributed. So far this has been noticed only
in Tinnevelly and Nellore districts.
_Distribution._--Southern India, the Punjab and Rajputana, also in
Arabia and tropical Africa.
=Aristida funiculata, _Trin. & Rup._=
This is a slender annual grass with geniculately ascending stems,
radiating on all sides. The stems vary in length from 10 to 20 inches.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and cylindrical. The _ligule_ is a short
membrane ciliate at the margin, or a close set fringe of hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is flat or convolute, narrowly linear-acuminate, with
long scattered hairs on the upper surface and tufts of long hairs at the
mouth, and varying in length from 2 to 6 inches and in breadth from 1/20
to 1/12 inch.
The _inflorescence_ is a narrow, lax panicle with short, erect,
capillary branches. The spikelets vary in length from 1/2 to 7/8 inch.
There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is linear-lanceolate, acute
and terminating in an awn, 1-nerved and varying in length from 3/4 to
7/8 inch. The _second glume_ is similar to the first, but narrower and
shorter, 1/2 inch or longer. The _third glume_ is very short, and is
prolonged towards the apex as a narrow firmly convolute strap forming a
twisted column of about an inch jointed at the base, and this ends in
three slender scabrid awns of about 1-1/4 inch, the middle one being
longer. The glume just below the joint is finely scabrid to a little
distance. The _palea_ is short. _Anthers_ are small, purple. The _style_
branches are also purple. _Lodicules_ are oblong, obliquely truncate at
the apex and about 1/10 inch long. The grain is cylindric.
[Illustration: Fig. 177.--Aristida funiculata.
1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively; 5. a portion of the column at the top and the basal
portions of the awns; 6. the ovary, lodicules and the stamens; 7. palea
of the third glume.]
Found in open dry situation in several places, but not widely
distributed.
_Distribution._--From the Punjab to Concan and Madras Presidency,
Arabia, Baluchistan and Tropical Africa.
32. Sporobolus, _Br._
These are perennial or annual grasses with varied habit. Inflorescence
is an open or contracted or spiciform panicle. Spikelets are small
consisting of three membranous glumes, 1-nerved or nerveless. The first
and the second glumes are unequal, persistent or separately caducous.
The third glume is ovate or oblong, acute or obtuse, longer or shorter
than the second, 1-nerved, paleate; palea is as long as the glume and of
the same texture of the glume dorsally narrowly inflexed along the
middle line and splitting into two halves. Lodicules are very minute or
absent. Stamens one to three. Styles are with short stigmas. Grain
oblong, obovoid or round.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Glumes I and II both shorter than III.
Panicle rather narrow with short
capillary branches; glumes I
and II nerveless. 1. S. diander.
Glume I shorter than II and III and II
nearly or quite as long as III.
Panicle contracted, narrow
and spiciform; glume I 1-nerved. 2. S. tremulus.
Panicle open and effuse.
Branches with spikelets and
pedicels appressed. 3. S. coromandelianus.
Panicle short; leaves glabrous.
Branches with pedicel and
spikelets drooping and
not appressed. 4. S. commutatus.
Panicle large; leaves with
long hairs. 5. S. scabrifolius.
=Sporobolus diander, _Beauv._=
This is a tufted annual or perennial grass. Stems are slender with
leaves tufted at the base, 1 to 3 feet high.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and smooth, ribbed, the lower short and
the upper very long. _Nodes_ are glabrous. The _ligule_ consists of a
fringe of minute hairs.
The _leaf-blades_ are usually flat, glabrous, strongly nerved, with
filiform tips, 3 to 10 inches by 1/25 to 1/16 inch.
The _inflorescence_ is an erect narrow pyramidal panicle, varying in
length from 4 to 10 inches and about 2 inches in breadth. The branches
are very fine, spreading and in scattered fascicles, 1/2 to 2 inches
long, with many very small spikelets arranged racemosely along the axis.
_Spikelets_ are small 1/18 to 1/20 inch long, with very short pedicels.
The _first glume_ is very short less than 1/5 inch, broadly oblong,
nerveless, hyaline, broadly truncate and erose at the apex. The _second
glume_ is a little longer than the first, but shorter than the third,
hyaline, broadly elliptic-oblong, nerveless or obscurely 1-nerved. The
_third glume_ is broadly ovate-oblong, subacute, 1-nerved, paleate; the
_palea_ is plicate in the median line. Stamens are usually two. The
grain is obovoid, truncate at the apex, and with a small white swelling
in the centre at the apex, rugulose, red-brown.
[Illustration: Fig. 178.--Sporobolus diander.
1. A portion of a branch; 2. a spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second
and the third glume, respectively; 6. palea of the third glume; 7.
anthers and the ovary.]
This grass grows usually gregariously in somewhat sheltered situations
all over the Presidency on the plains and low hills. This is an
excellent fodder grass. It forms fairly large tufts with plenty of green
leaves on rich moist soils. When the leaves are young cattle eat this
grass very eagerly, but do not seem to care for it when the leaves
become old. However by frequent grazing it can be made to produce young
leaves in succession. This grass is also an excellent soil binder, as
its roots form a perfect matting in any kind of moist soil soon after
planting. This is very difficult to eradicate when once established.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Burma.
[Illustration: Fig. 179.--Sporobolus tremulus.]
=Sporobolus tremulus, _Kunth._=
A small tufted perennial grass.
The plant consists of prostrate stems and stolons, filiform and wiry.
Stems vary in length from 2 to 18 inches, prostrate or erect, rooting at
the lower nodes; flowering branches always ascending.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, finely striate, shorter than the
internode. The _ligule_ is a very short ciliated membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow linear, pungent, somewhat rigid, flat,
distichous, base rounded with or without a few long hairs and varies in
length from 1/4 to 1 inch and in breadth from 1/20 to 1/16 inch, but in
plants growing in rich moist soils the leaves become longer reaching
3-1/2 inches in length.
The _inflorescence_ is a narrow spiciform panicle with appressed
branches and spikelets, sometimes interrupted, varying in length from
3/4 to 1-1/4 inch; both the peduncle and the main rachis are glabrous,
and the latter wavy.
[Illustration: Fig. 180.--Sporobolus tremulus.
1. Spike; 2. spikelet; 3 and 4. first and second glumes; 5 and 6. third
glume and its palea; 7. ovary and anthers.]
The _spikelets_ are 1/16 inch long, oblong-lanceolate, pale, crowded,
glabrous, shortly pedicelled on thinly scaberulous filiform short
branches. There are three glumes in the spikelet, and all the glumes are
membranous and thin. The _first glume_ is a little shorter than the
second and about two-third the length of the third glume and 1-nerved.
The _second glume_ is a little shorter than the third or equal to but
not longer, oblong-lanceolate, subacute or obtuse, 1-nerved and
obscurely scaberulous at the back along the nerve. The _third glume_ is
broadly oblong, subacute or obtuse, 1-nerved, glabrous, with a palea as
long as the glume; the _palea_ is 2-nerved, oblong and truncate at the
apex. _Stamens_ are three and anthers are pale greenish yellow.
_Stigmas_ are pale. _Lodicules_ are two, small.
This grass is an excellent one for binding the soil and may also prove
successful as a fodder grass. It usually flourishes in moist situations,
in sandy loams and rich heavy soils.
_Distribution._--Plains throughout India and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 181.--Sporobolus coromandelianus.]
=Sporobolus coromandelianus, _L._=
The plant is a densely tufted annual varying in size with the nature of
the soil, small and stunted in hard dry soils and large and spreading in
rich loose and moist soils.
The stems are closely spreading on the ground, rooting sometimes at the
lower nodes, branching freely, profusely leafy at the base, covered by a
few scale leaves, and 2 to 12 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, faintly and finely striate, distichously
imbricate, compressed, somewhat keeled, outer margin ciliate, and
bearded at the mouth. The _ligule_ is a thin short membranous ridge with
a fringe of dense fine hairs. The leaf-sheath enclosing the base of the
peduncle is rather long, glabrous with a tuft of short hairs at the
mouth.
The _leaf-blade_ is green without any glaucousness about it, 1/2 to 6
inches long, 3/16 to 1/4 inch broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate,
flat, acuminate, slightly coriaceous, many-nerved with a prominent
midrib, scaberulous throughout, with a few long scattered deciduous,
tubercle-based hairs towards the base, base subcordate, margin
cartilaginous, scabrid and finely serrulate.
[Illustration: Fig. 182.--Sporobolus coromandelianus.
1. Portion of a spike showing the verticillate arrangement of the
branches and the glands; 2. spikelet; 3. first glume; 4 and 5. second
and third glumes; 6. palea of the third glume; 7. anthers and ovary; 8.
grain.]
The _inflorescence_ is a pyramidal panicle 1-1/2 to 4 inches long, erect
on a terete glabrous peduncle 1-1/2 to 6 inches long, the main rachis is
slender, erect, striate, glabrous and has glandular streaks just above
the insertion of the branches of the lowest verticil. Branches are
capillary, stiff and spreading, horizontally verticillate or
subverticillate, the lowest whorl consisting of five to sixteen or
seventeen branches and the others from three to nine, shining, swollen
at the point of insertion and provided with a glandular scar a little
above the point of insertion; branchlets are very close, appressed to
the rachis of the branch never drooping or spreading, each bearing two
to five spikelets.
The _spikelets_ are small, 1/20 to 1/16 inch subsessile or pedicelled,
always appressed to the rachis solitary in the upper portions of the
branches, and two to five on the branchlets in the lower portion, pale,
green or rarely copper coloured, oblong or lanceolate, acute or
acuminate, caducous or glumes one and two persistent.
There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is very small, hyaline,
ovate, obtuse, occasionally truncate or acute, about one-fifth of the
third glume or less. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate or
oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, thinly scaberulous and 1-nerved.
The _third glume_ is as long as or a little shorter than the second
glume, 1-nerved and paleate. The _palea_ is as long as the glume,
oblong, 2-nerved, splitting in two portions between the nerves as soon
as the grain is formed. _Stamens_ are three with reddish purple anthers;
_stigmas_ are white at first, but turning brown while withering.
_Lodicules_ are two, minute. The grain is oblong, pale, brown and obtuse
at both ends, embryo about 1/3 of the grain.
This grass flourishes in all kinds of soils all over the Presidency.
_Distribution._--Throughout the plains of India and Ceylon. Also in
Afghanistan and South Africa.
[Illustration: Fig. 183.--Sporobolus commutatus.]
=Sporobolus commutatus, _Kunth._=
This is an annual and usually grows in loose tufts. Stems are slender,
always erect or ascending, leafy and branching, 2 to 15 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is shorter than the internode, slightly compressed,
finely striate, glabrous and occasionally with a few scattered
tubercle-based hairs, margin ciliate; the uppermost sheath is cylindric
somewhat long and embraces the greater portion of the peduncle and has a
bunch of short hairs at the top.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow linear-lanceolate, acuminate scaberulous
throughout, with long tubercle-based hairs scattered all over, but more
of them near the base; margins spinulosely distantly serrulate or
scabrid, base rounded or subcordate, 1/2 to 4-1/2 inches long and 1/16
to 3/16 inch wide.
[Illustration: Fig. 184.--Sporobolus commutatus.
1. A portion of a branch; 2. spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. first, second and the
third glume; 6. palea of the third glume; 7. ovary and anthers; 8 and 9.
grain.]
The _inflorescence_ is diffuse, pyramidal, 1 to 3 inches by 3/4 to 2
inches, on a slender glabrous peduncle 1 to 6 inches long, main rachis
is slender and angled, with a glandular streak or without it. Branches
are effuse, fine, capillary (more so than in S. coromandelianus),
obliquely ascending, never stiff and horizontal, verticillate or
irregularly subverticillate, the lowest whorl of five to twelve and the
others three to seven branches; the rachis of the branches is obscurely
scaberulous, slightly swollen at the point of insertion; branchlets are
never appressed to the branch, always drooping and spreading on all
sides, and bearing two to four spikelets.
The _spikelets_ are about 1/16 inch long, ovate-lanceolate, acute or
acuminate dark or pale green, sometimes purplish, solitary or two to
four on long slender pedicels, drooping, never appressed, and with
glandular streaks. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is
minute, hyaline, ovate, obtuse or acute, nerveless. The _second glume_
is five or six times as long as the first, ovate lanceolate, 1-nerved,
acuminate. The _third glume_ is equal to or a little shorter than the
second, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1-nerved paleate; _palea_ is equal to
the third glume, 2-nerved splitting into two halves between the nerves.
_Anthers_ are three and purple in colour. _Stigmas_ are white and
feathery. Grain as in _S. coromandelianus_.
In Flora of British India, this plant is included under Sporobolus
coromandelianus. These two plants (_S. coromandelianus_ and _S.
commutatus_) are quite distinct and grow side by side. As the
differences are not easily seen in herbarium specimens the two plants
are put together under the one species _S. coromandelianus_. The
branches are tufted and are usually decumbent at base, leaves quite
green and somewhat broad in _S. coromandelianus_; and in _S.
commutatus_, branches are usually not decumbent at base, generally erect
from the base and leaves are green glaucous and somewhat narrow. The
most striking difference, however, is in the panicle. The branches of
the panicle are always stiff and horizontal in S. coromandelianus and
the spikelets are appressed to the branches and never spreading or
drooping, whereas in _S. commutatus_ the branches are never stiff and
horizontal, always obliquely ascending and the spikelets are spreading
and drooping. Judging from living plants these two are undoubtedly
distinct and so this plant is treated as a distinct species retaining
Kunth's name _Sporobolus commutatus_. Enumeratio Plantarum, Pl. I, 214.
_Distribution._--This occurs in Coimbatore, Madras and Bellary
Districts; but it is not so common nor so widely distributed as S.
coromandelianus, _L._
[Illustration: Fig. 185.--Sporobolus scabrifolius.]
=Sporobolus scabrifolius, _Bhide._=
The plant is a very pretty one, especially when in flower. It is a
loosely tufted annual varying in height from 5 to 30 inches. Stems are
slender, terete, 6 to 30 inches long, bent at the base, then
geniculately ascending and finally becoming erect, glabrous, pale green
or purplish.
The _leaf-sheath_ is shorter than the internode, slightly compressed,
obscurely keeled, glabrous and striate, margin is thinly ciliate on one
side, especially towards the mouth which is bearded. The leaf-sheath
embracing the peduncle is longer than the lower sheaths. The _ligule_ is
a fringe of close-set hairs on an inconspicuous ridge. The _nodes_ are
glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is glaucous green, 1 to 5 inches long, 1/8 to 3/8 inch
broad, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, flat, rounded or
subcordate, and amplexicaul at base, scaberulous throughout, with
tubercle-based deciduous hairs on both the surfaces, and bearded at the
base above the ligule; the margin is thickened, serrulate, ciliate with
bulbous-based deciduous hairs.
[Illustration: Fig. 186.--Sporobolus scabrifolius.
1. Portion of a branch; 2. spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and
third glumes; 6. palea; 7. anthers and ovary; 8. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ is an effuse panicle, 2-1/2 to 7 inches long and 1
to 4-1/2 inches broad, pyramidal or elliptic on a slender peduncle 1 to
7 inches long; _rachis_ is striolate, cylindric, glabrous and partly
green and partly purplish. Branches are capillary, 1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
long, those in the middle of the panicle are often the longest pale
green at first but turning purple later, whorled regularly or
irregularly, with often a solitary or twin branches intervening,
spreading, horizontal, reflexed, rarely one or two erect, dividing into
still finer branchlets below, ending in a few solitary spikelets above,
swollen at the base near the place of insertion and naked to a short
length, scabrid. The lowest whorl consists of five to ten branches and
in others they vary from three to eight; the branchlets are spreading
and drooping bearing from two to seven spikelets. There are glandular
streaks at the base of the branches above the point of insertion in the
naked portion and also on the pedicels of the spikelets.
_The spikelets_ are 1/20 to 1/16 inch long, lanceolate, acuminate, on
finely capillary pedicels long or short, pale at first and becoming
purplish when old. There are three _glumes_, the first two being empty.
All the glumes are 1-nerved and membranous. The _first glume_ is
membranous, about two-thirds of the second, sometimes less,
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate slightly scaberulous on the keel. The
_second glume_ is a little longer than the third, ovate-lanceolate,
acuminate, scaberulous on the keel. The _third glume_ is oblong-ovate,
glabrous, flower bearing, paleate; the _palea_ is shorter than the
glume, 2-nerved, splitting into two between the nerves. _Anthers_ are
three, small, pale yellow at first but becoming purple when old,
_stigmas_ are pale. _Lodicules_ are two and minute. Grain is rounded,
slightly compressed, oblique at the base, nearly as long as broad.
_Distribution._--In black cotton soils in Coimbatore and Bellary
districts.
33. Gracilea, _Koen._
These are small tufted grasses. The inflorescence is a spike bearing
unilaterally turbinate clusters of spikelets which are 2-flowered. The
spikelets have usually four, and rarely six glumes and very often the
rachilla is produced beyond the fourth glume. The first and the second
glumes are narrow (the first being the narrowest), rigid, ciliate with
long hairs and awned. The third glume is bisexual, chartaceous, broadly
ovate, 3-nerved, shortly awned. The fourth glume is similar to the third
but smaller and male. The fifth and sixth glumes when present are small
and empty. Lodicules are two and small. Grain linear oblong.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Stems stout; leaves not filiform; tip of
glume III entire 1. G. nutans.
Stems slender, leaves filiform; tip of
glume III toothed 2. G. Royleana.
=Gracilea nutans, _Koen._=
This grass is a perennial with stout fibrous roots. Stems are stout,
leafy and creeping below, ascending later; naked and slender above, 4 to
10 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, shorter than the blade, coriaceous and
open above. The _ligule_ is a ridge of hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is lanceolate, narrowed from the rounded or subcordate
base to the acute tip, coriaceous, 3/4 to 1 inch long; margins are
ciliate with tubercle-based cilia; the surfaces with or without a few
scattered long tubercle-based hairs.
The _inflorescence_ is 1 to 3 inches long, consisting of distant sessile
fascicles of four to six spikelets; the _rachis_ of the spike is
flexuous; the _rachis_ of the fascicles ends in three subulate empty
glumes.
[Illustration: Fig. 187.--Gracilea nutans.
1. A portion of the inflorescence with three fascicles of spikelets; 2.
a spikelet without the first glume; 3, 4, 5 and 8. the first, second,
third and the fourth glume, respectively; 6 and 10. palea of the third
and the fourth glume, respectively; 7. lodicules, stamens and the ovary;
9. the rachilla produced beyond the fourth glume.]
The _spikelets_ are closely appressed and each one has four _glumes_.
The _first_ and the _second glumes_ are empty, 2/5 inch long, rigidly
coriaceous, gradually narrowed from a villous base into an erect,
scabrid awn, 1-nerved. The _second glume_ has broad hyaline margins
towards the base. The _third glume_ is about 1/10 inch, ovate, with a
short scabrid awn at the tip, scaberulous at the back just above the
middle, 3-nerved, paleate and with both stamens and ovary; _palea_ is
narrow, lanceolate, as long as the glume and 2-toothed at the tip. The
grain is oblong, brownish. The _fourth glume_ is about half as long as
the third glume, with a short, stout, smooth rachilla, ovate-lanceolate,
terminated at the tip by two teeth and a short awn, scabrid above the
middle at the back, paleate and male; _palea_ is shorter than the glume;
the rachilla is produced beyond the fourth glume and terminates in a
thickening.
This grass grows in open somewhat dry loamy and laterite soils in the
East Coast districts.
_Distribution._--Mysore and the Carnatic and Ceylon.
=Gracilea Royleana, _Hook. f._=
This is a slender annual grass. Stems are very slender, densely tufted,
geniculately ascending or erect, 3 to 8 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is either covered with scattered tubercle-based hairs
or glabrous. The _ligule_ is a hairy ridge. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is filiform, linear-lanceolate, acutely pointed,
glabrous or nearly so, margins distantly ciliate, 1 to 2 inches long by
1/16 inch or less.
The _inflorescence_ is 1/2 to 3 inches long and consists of fascicles of
spikelets; the rachis is trigonous, smooth, and flexuous.
[Illustration: Fig. 188.--Gracilea Royleana.
1. A fascicle of spikelets; 2. the spikelet without the first and the
second glumes; 3,4, 5 and 8. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively; 6. palea of third glume; 7. grain; 9. palea of the
fourth glume; 10. rachilla.]
The _spikelets_ consist of four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is rigidly
coriaceous, gradually narrowed from a villous base to an erect scabrid
awn, 1-nerved. The _second glume_ is also coriaceous, narrowed to an awn
but has broad hyaline margins towards the base. The _third glume_ is
ovate-lanceolate, scabrid all over the back and with two teeth, one on
each side of the awn, paleate; the _palea_ is 2-toothed at the apex and
as long as the glume and contains three stamens and the ovary. The grain
is oblong brownish. The _fourth glume_ is stalked, shorter than the
third glume, distinctly 3-toothed at the apex, scabrid at the back above
the middle, paleate and male; the _palea_ is smaller than the glume and
2-toothed at the apex. The _rachilla_ is produced behind the palea and
it ends in two small teeth, one being slightly larger than the other.
This grass is a very slender one and it is closely allied to _Gracilea
nutans_. It differs from _G. nutans_ in being an annual and in having
filiform leaves, bicuspidate third glume which is scabrid all over the
back and a fourth glume distinctly tricuspidate at the apex. This does
not occur so widely as _Gracilea nutans_.
_Distribution._--Bellary and Chingleput districts, the Punjab,
Rajputana, Concan and Kanara.
34. Enteropogon, _Nees._
Tall slender grasses with very long narrow leaves. Spikelets are
2-flowered, narrow, biseriate, unilateral, imbricate on the rachis of a
solitary spike; the rachilla is elongate between the flowering glumes
and produced beyond them and terminates in a rudimentary awned glume.
There are four glumes. The first two glumes are hyaline, unequal-nerved
and persistent. The third and the fourth glumes are chartaceous,
narrowly lanceolate, 3-nerved, bicuspidate and awned below the tip; awns
are capillary, straight; the callus is bearded and articulate at the
base. The third glume bears a bisexual or female flower and the fourth
bisexual or male. Lodicules are two. Stamens are three with long
anthers. Styles short diverging from the base, with short stigmas
laterally exserted.
=Enteropogon melicoides, _Nees._=
This is a tall perennial grass with stout roots. Stems are densely
tufted on a short woody root-stock, erect, leafy, 1 to 3 feet long.
_Leaf-sheaths_ are compressed and distichous below, glabrous or
sometimes with a few hairs close to the margin. Ligule is a ridge with
long hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is very long 1/6 to 1/4 inch broad, auricled at the
base, narrowed into very finely acuminate or capillary tips midrib
prominent; scaberulous on both the surfaces and with long hairs on the
auricles.
The _spikes_ usually solitary, but occasionally binate, 6 to 10 inches
long; rachis is quite smooth and dorsally rounded.
[Illustration: Fig. 189.--Enteropogon melicoides.
1. A portion of the spike; 2 and 3. the first and the second glumes; 4.
the spikelet with its callus, flowering glumes and the rachilla; 5 and
8. the third and the fourth glume; 7. the fourth glume and the rachilla;
6 and 9. palea of the third and the fourth glume; 10. ovary, stamens and
lodicules; 11. grain front and back view.]
The _spikelets_ are about 1/4 inch long, erecto-patent. There are four
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, 1-nerved, and persistent. The
_second glume_ is twice as long as the first, linear-lanceolate, with a
very short awn and 2-toothed at the tip, 1-nerved, persistent. The
_third glume_ is rigid, lanceolate-linear, 3-nerved, scaberulous all
over; paleate and awned; awn is nearly as long as the glume, rigid. The
_fourth glume_ is similar to the third glume in all respects but
shorter. The rachilla is produced beyond the fourth glume and it
terminates in an awned rudimentary glume. The third glume as well as the
fourth glume contains a perfect flower and the grain is developed always
in the third and mostly in the fourth also. The grain is oblong,
brownish, dorsally concave and ventrally raised and convex. The grain in
the fourth glume is usually much smaller than that found in the third
glume.
This usually grows amidst thickets and occurs all over this Presidency.
_Distribution._--Mysore, Burma, Ceylon and Seychelle Islands.
35. Cynodon, _Pers._
These are perennial grasses with stems creeping and rooting at the
nodes, and producing tufts of barren branches and flowering stems at the
nodes. The inflorescence consists of two to six spikes in terminal
umbels. The spikelets are small, 1-flowered, laterally compressed,
sessile, alternately 2-seriate and imbricate on one side of the rachis.
The spikelet has three glumes. The first two glumes are empty, thin,
keeled, and acute or mucronate. The third glume is the largest,
boat-shaped, 3-nerved, with ciliate keels, palea is 2-keeled, somewhat
shorter than the glume. Lodicules are two. The anthers are somewhat
large. Grain is oblong, free.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Glumes I and II shorter than III.
Underground stems present.
Hairs on the margins and keels of
glume III pointed and not clavate. 1. C. dactylon.
Underground stems absent.
Hairs on the margins and keels of
glume III clavellate and pointed at
the apex. 2. C. intermedius.
Glume I shorter than II but II equal to or
longer than III--
Hairs on the margins and keels of
glume III clavellate and rounded at
the apex. Underground stems
absent. 3. C. Barberi.
[Illustration: Fig. 190.--Cynodon dactylon.]
=Cynodon dactylon, _Pers._=
This is a perennial grass with creeping branches and also with numerous
deeply penetrating underground stems covered with white scale-leaves.
Stems are prostrate, widely creeping and rooting at the nodes and
forming matted tufts with slender, erect or ascending flowering
branches, 3 to 12 inches high.
The _leaf-sheath_ is somewhat tight, glabrous, membranous at the mouth
which is villous. The _ligule_ is a fine ciliate rim.
The _leaf-blade_ is soft, narrowly linear, finely acute, acuminate or
pungent, somewhat glaucous, conspicuously distichous at the base of the
stem and, in non-flowering branches, scabrid along the margins.
The _inflorescence_ consists of two to eight smooth, digitate, green or
purplish spikes, 1 to 3 inches long; _rachis_ is slender, compressed or
angular, scaberulous.
[Illustration: Fig. 191.--Cynodon dactylon.
1. A portion of spike, front view; 2. back view of a bit of spike; 3.
spikelet; 4. first glume; 5. second glume; 6. third glume; 7. palea of
third glume and rachilla; 8. lodicules, ovary and anthers; 9. hairs on
the margin and keel of third glume.]
_Spikelets_ are laterally compressed, sessile, imbricate, arranged
alternately in two series along one side of the rachis; _rachilla_
produced beyond the first two glumes and hidden at the back of the palea
between the two keels, small, slender and blunt when old and with a
membranous imperfect glume when young, less than half the length of the
spikelet. There are three _glumes_. The _first_ and _second glumes_ are
shorter than the third, empty, ovate-lanceolate, acute, membranous with
one thick green nerve in the middle, keeled, upper margin and keel
scaberulous. The _second glume_ is usually a little longer than the
first, but occasionally also slightly shorter than the first. The _third
glume_ is longer than both the first and second glumes, obliquely oblong
to ovate, subacute, membranous, boat-shaped, smooth, keeled, 3-nerved,
one central along the keel and two marginal, keel scabrid below with
stiff pointed hairs above, tip and lower margins scabrid or pilose,
_palea_ linear oblong, a little less than the third glume, obtuse,
2-nerved and with two scabrid keels. _Stamens_ are three with pale
purple anthers. _Lodicules_ are two. Stigmas are purplish. Grain is
oblong, slightly flattened, dorsally rounded, dull reddish-brown.
This is the common Hariali grass. It is also called "Devil's grass."
_Distribution._--It is cosmopolitan.
[Illustration: Fig. 192.--Cynodon intermedius.]
=Cynodon intermedius, _Rang. & Tad._=
This grass is a widely creeping perennial.
The stems are slender, glabrous, creeping superficially and rooting at
the nodes, but never rhizomiferous, leafy with slender erect or
geniculately ascending flowering branches, and varying in length from 12
to 18 inches. _Nodes_ are slightly swollen, glabrous, green or purplish.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, glabrous, slightly compressed, sparsely
bearded at the mouth, shorter than the internode, except the one
enclosing the peduncle which is usually long. The _ligule_ is a shortly
ciliated rim.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, flat, finely acuminate, scaberulous above
and along the margins, smooth below except in some portions of the
midrib, 1/2 to 7 inches in length and 3/16 to 1/4 inch in breadth.
[Illustration: Fig. 193.--Cynodon intermedius.
1 and 2. Front and back view of a portion of a spike; 3. a spikelet; 4.
first glume; 5. second glume; 6. third glume; 7. palea with the rachilla
at its back; 8. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 9. clavellate and
pointed hairs of the margins and keel of the third glume (very much
enlarged); 10. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ consists of four to eight long, thin, slender,
slightly drooping, digitately arranged spikes, 2 to 4 inches long on a
long smooth peduncle; the rachis is tumid and pubescent at its base,
slender, somewhat compressed and scaberulous.
The _spikelets_ are rather small, narrow, greenish or purplish, 1/15
inch long or less, the rachilla is slender, produced to about half the
length of the spikelet behind the palea. There are three _glumes_. The
_first_ and the _second glumes_ are lanceolate acute or acuminate,
1-nerved, keeled, keel obscurely scabrid, very unequal, the first glume
being always shorter than the second glume. The _third glume_ is
obliquely ovate-oblong, chartaceous, longer than the second glume,
obtuse or subacute and 3-nerved; the margins and keel with close set
clavellate hairs pointed at the apex; _palea_ is chartaceous, 2-keeled,
keels obscurely scaberulous and without hairs. There are three _stamens_
with somewhat small purple anthers. _Ovary_ with purple stigmas and two
small _lodicules_. Grain is oblong reddish brown, with a faint dorsal
groove.
This species is closely allied to the cosmopolitan species _Cynodon
dactylon_, Pers. and to another new species _Cynodon Barberi_, Rang. &
Tad. described in the "Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society,"
Volume 24, part IV, page 846, and it is therefore named _Cynodon
intermedius_. (See Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Volume
26, part I, pages 304 and 305.) This grass differs from _Cynodon
dactylon_, Pers. (1) in not having underground stems and having only
stems creeping and rooting along the surface of the ground, (2) in
having less rigid leaves, (3) by having longer, slenderer, somewhat
drooping spikes and narrower spikelets, (4) by having the first two
glumes always unequal, the second being longer, (5) by having clavellate
pointed hairs on the margins and keels of the third glume and (6) by
having smaller anthers. Compared with _Cynodon Barberi_, this plant is
more extensively creeping with longer slender branches and the leaves
are usually very much longer, and the third glume is longer than the
second.
_Distribution._--So far, this was collected at Gokavaram in
Godavari district No. 8262, in Chingleput No. 11488, in Tinnevelly
district Nos. 13129 and 13259, and at Kallar on the Nilgiris No. 13988.
[Illustration: Fig. 194.--Cynodon Barberi.]
=Cynodon Barberi, _Rang. & Tad._=
This grass is perennial with slender, creeping stems, 12 to 24 inches
long, rooting at the nodes and invariably with two or three rarely more
branches from each node; flowering branches are slender, erect or
ascending, 1 to 6 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is short, smooth, compressed with scattered long hairs
at the mouth. The _ligule_ is a narrow membrane with the edge cut into
narrow lobes.
The _leaf-blade_ is flat, linear, acute or subacute, scaberulous, 1/3 to
3-1/2 inches long, 1/8 to 3/16 inch broad.
[Illustration: Fig. 195.--Cynodon Barberi.
1. Front and back view of a portion of spike; 2. a single spikelet; 3. a
spikelet with the flower out; 4. the third glume, its palea and the
produced rachilla with a minute glume; 5. clavellate hairs; 6. ovary; 7.
lodicules; 8. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ consists of three to five digitate spikes, 3/4 to
1-1/2 inches long, erect or spreading, pale green or purplish. The
_spikelets_ are compressed laterally, sessile or obscurely pedicelled,
imbricate, alternately biseriate on the ventral side of the rachis,
1-flowered; the _rachilla_ is produced into a bristle behind the palea,
with or without a minute glume. There are three _glumes_. The _first
glume_ is lanceolate, acute, shorter than the second, with a keel which
is scabrid. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, acuminate, equal to or a
little longer than the third glume with a scabrid keel. The _third
glume_ is obliquely oblong to ovate, subacute, truncate or 2-toothed,
boat-shaped, sub-chartaceous, 3-nerved, paleate and distinctly keeled;
the keel and the margins of the glume are densely covered with
distinctly clavellate hairs; _palea_ is firmly membranous, equal to or
slightly smaller than the glume, linear-oblong, 2-keeled, densely hairy
with clavellate hairs along the keels, and 2-nerved. There are two
_lodicules_ and three _stamens_. The _ovary_ is ovoid with two style
branches. Grain is free within the glume, oblong, smooth, transparent,
and the embryo is about one-third the length of the grain.
This species is closely allied to _Cynodon dactylon_, Pers., but differs
from it in the following respects:--The absence of stoloniferous
underground branches, leaves short and not finely pointed; spikes not
exceeding five; the _second glume_ is always equal to or longer than the
_third glume_; presence of clavellate hairs on the keels and margins of
the third glume and on the keels of the palea.
_Distribution._--So far collected in Coimbatore, Salem, Tinnevelly,
Chingleput and Godavari districts.
36. Chloris, _Sw._
These are annual or perennial grasses. Spikes are solitary or many in
terminal umbels or short racemes, erect or spreading. Spikelets are
unilateral, sessile, crowded, biseriate on a slender rachis with four to
six glumes and 1 to 3-flowered; the rachilla is produced and
disarticulating above the empty glumes. The first two glumes are
unequal, narrow, keeled, membranous, 1-nerved, persistent, acute,
mucronate and the second glume awned shortly. Floral glumes narrow or
broad, acute, obtuse or minutely 2-toothed and awned, paleate; sterile
glumes are small, without palea. There are two lodicules and anthers are
rather small. Grain is narrow and free.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Spikelets 1-flowered.
Perennial.
Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glumes
and bearing awns with rudimentary glumes.
Spikes 4 to 10, long, whorled; spikelets
narrow fusiform; glume III oblong
lanceolate. 1. C. incompleta.
Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glume
and bearing 1 to 3 reduced glumes.
Spikes free at the base, digitate.
Spikes 6 to 9; spikelets 2-awned;
glume III ovate, bearded with long
hairs above the middle. 3. C. virgata.
Spikes 4 to 20; spikelets 3-awned;
glume III broadly ovate, densely
bearded dorsally and on the margins
above the middle. 4. C. barbata.
Spikes connate at the base, erect and not
spreading.
Spikes 2 to 6; spikelets narrow 4-awned,
glume III ovate-lanceolate,
bearded only on the margins
and not at the back. 6. C. montana.
Annual.
Spike solitary, spikelets broadly cuneiform,
3-awned, glume III broadly cuneate,
upper margins naked and keel villous. 2. C. tenella.
Spikelets 1- to 3-flowered.
Perennial.
Spikes 5-9, spikelets broadly cuneate 3 to
5-awned, glume III bearded all through
the margin and dorsally. 5. C. Bournei.
=Chloris incompleta, _Roth._=
This is a perennial grass. Stems are procumbent when growing in open
places, but erect if growing amidst bushes, often branched, ending in
long naked peduncles, varying in length from 1-1/2 to 4 feet. In some
cases prostrate stems produce roots at the nodes.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are long, glabrous, the mouth being generally hairy.
The _ligule_ consists of long hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blades_ are linear, flat, finely acuminate and narrowed into
very long points at the apex; glabrous or slightly hairy at the base and
contracted, 4 to 10 inches long and 1/6 to 1/4 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of two to five rarely six, very slender
spikes, 3 to 8 inches long, forming a terminal whorl. The rachis is fine
and scabrid.
[Illustration: Fig. 196.--Chloris incompleta.
1. A portion of the rachis with two spikelets; 2. the third glume and
its palea with the rudimentary fourth glume; 3 and 4. the first and the
second glumes; 5 and 6. the third glume and its palea; 7. the ovary,
anthers and lodicules.]
_Spikelets_ are narrowly lanceolate, closely appressed and imbricate,
1/6 inch long excluding the awn and very variable. There are four
_glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is very small
linear-lanceolate, acute, about 1/10 inch or less. The _second glume_ is
lanceolate, membranous, three times the length of the first glume,
2-toothed at the apex and the mid-nerve produced into a very short awn.
The _third glume_ is oblong-lanceolate as long as the second glume or
longer, 2-toothed at the apex, awned, the awn being about 3/8 inch long;
the callus is bearded at the base. The palea is as long as the glume,
2-toothed or not at the apex. The _fourth glume_ is very minute, awned
and is borne by a rachilla produced to half the length of the third
glume.
This grass is fairly common and grows in all situations and in all sorts
of soils.
_Distribution._--This occurs all over the Presidency in the plains.
=Chloris tenella, _Roxb._=
This grass is a very slender annual with weak stems, branched from the
base, 10 to 18 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, compressed and keeled. The _ligule_ is a
truncate membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear to linear-lanceolate, flaccid, finely
acuminate with the margin more or less ciliate towards the base, 3 to 8
inches long and 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide.
The _spikes_ are solitary, erect. 1 to 2-1/2 inches long.
[Illustration: Fig. 197.--Chloris tenella.
1. A portion of the spike; 2. a spikelet; 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
the glumes in regular order beginning with the first; 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a and
9b. are the palea of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and the seventh
glumes, respectively; 5b. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are large about 1/4 inch long cuneate and bifarious.
There are usually five to six _glumes_ (and rarely up to eight). The
_first glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, acute and hyaline, 1-nerved. The
_second glume_ is a little longer and broader than the first glume,
1-nerved and this mid-nerve produced into a very short awn. The _third
glume_ is as long as the second or longer, coriaceous, obovate and
truncate at the top, 3-nerved and the marginal nerves distant from the
margin, keel and the lateral nerves villous to about three-fourths their
length, scabrid at the apex close to the truncate margin, paleate;
_palea_ is elliptic, with ciliate margins, callus is densely villous.
The _fourth glume_ is nearly half or a little more than half of the
third glume, narrower, paleate; _palea_ is elliptic. The succeeding
glumes _fifth_ to the _eighth_ are similar to the fourth in shape but
they get smaller and smaller and the last glume is epaleate. The third
glume is usually grain bearing, but rarely the fourth also may contain a
grain, the remaining glumes being sterile. Grain is oblong, lenticular,
brownish.
This grass is widely spread in the Ceded districts and appears to be a
good fodder grass.
_Distribution._--Southern India, Rajputana, Scind and Khandeish.
=Chloris virgata, _Sw._=
This grass seems to be a perennial. The stems are somewhat flattened,
erect, tufted, leafy at the base and occasionally with creeping stems
rooting at the lower nodes varying in length from 10 to 21 inches.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous, compressed, upper sheaths somewhat
inflated; mouth of the sheath is bearded with long hairs in the leaves
of young branches and quite glabrous when old and in flower-bearing
branches, margins are thin and membranous. The ligule is a thin narrow
membranous ridge.
The _leaf-blades_ are rather narrow, linear, flat, acute, glabrous when
old, and with scattered long hairs in the leaves of young branches,
varying in length from 2 to 9 and sometimes even 15 inches and in
breadth about 1/8 inch or less.
[Illustration: Fig. 198.--Chloris virgata.
1. Spikelet; 2 and 3, the first and second glumes; 4 and 5. the third
glume and its palea; 6. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 7. the fourth
glume; 8. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ consists of from four to nine spikes digitately
arranged on a long peduncle and the leaf-sheath enclosing the
inflorescence is somewhat large and inflated. Spikes are 1 to 1-1/2
inches long with fine, angular rachis, scaberulous in the edges.
_Spikelets_ are about 1/10 inch, 2-awned, shortly stalked and consist of
only four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is small lanceolate, glabrous,
with the keel scaberulous, 1-nerved. The _second glume_ is about one and
a half times the first, oblong-lanceolate, 2-fid at the apex, glabrous,
but the keel scaberulous and nerve produced between the lobes into a
short scaberulous awn. The _third glume_ is oblong-ovate, lanceolate,
2-fid at the apex, and awned in the sinus, awn being about 1/4 inch long
bearded at the base, the margins are slightly ciliate up to about the
middle and then closely ciliate with long hairs almost to the tip, but
not to the tip; on the two sides of the dorsal nerve there are two
shallow grooves one on each side, with short scattered appressed hairs;
the palea is narrow oblanceolate, minutely 2-fid at the tip, with
margins folded inward and embracing the _stamens_, _ovary_ and the
_lodicules_. Grain is narrow, trigonous, oblong, translucent and
shining. The _fourth glume_ is borne by a short rachilla which is about
1/3 the length of the third glume or less, shorter than the third,
cuneiform, empty and awned.
This grass grows well and produces a fair amount of foliage.
_Distribution._--This is not very common. So far collected only from
Hosur in Salem district and Bellary district although its distribution
is said to be Central and Southern India. It was found growing
abundantly on old walls of houses in Poona city in 1920 and 1921.
[Illustration: Fig. 199.--Chloris barbata (perennial plant).]
[Illustration: Fig. 200.--Chloris barbata.]
=Chloris barbata, _Sw._=
This is a very common perennial grass.
Stems are stout, tufted, geniculately ascending and erect when in
flower, and some creeping and rooting at the nodes; leafy at the base
and branching upwards, 1 to 3 feet; the lower internodes are 2 to 3
inches long and the upper still longer, glabrous.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous, compressed laterally, open at the base
and closed above, with a few scattered long hairs at the mouth, the
margins thinly membranous. The _ligule_ is a very narrow membrane. The
_nodes_ are glabrous mostly bearing tufts of leaves with compressed
equitant sheaths.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow linear, flat or folded, acuminate, with long
hairs on the margin towards the base, varying in length from 2 to 18
inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 201.--Chloris barbata.
1 to 5. the first, second, third, fourth and the fifth glume of a
spikelet; 3a and 3b. the third glume and its palea; 3c. ovary, stamens
and lodicules; 4a and 5a. the fourth and fifth glumes; 6. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ consists of five to fourteen or fifteen sessile,
digitately arranged spikes, varying in length from 1-1/2 to 3 inches, on
a slender peduncle; the rachis is slender minutely hairy swollen at the
base.
The _spikelets_ are green or purplish, 3-awned, unilaterally biseriate
on the outside of the rachis, 1/10 inch excluding the awn; the
_rachilla_ is bearded at the base, but is shorter than the third glume
and bears two barren glumes. There are five _glumes_. The _first_ and
the _second glumes_ are lanceolate, acute, membranous, pale and
1-nerved, but the first glume is shorter than the second. The _third
glume_ is broadly elliptic or ovate, concave, awned, 3-nerved, with
margins densely bearded above the middle and sparsely bearded dorsally
on both the sides of the mid-nerve; the _palea_ is oblanceolate, as long
as the glume, folded inside along the margins and outside along the
middle, enclosing three _stamens_ and _ovary_. The _fourth glume_ is
cuneiform, 3-nerved, awned, shortly ciliate above the middle, empty. The
_fifth glume_ is awned, 3-nerved, glabrous, and globose.
This grass is very widely distributed and it grows in all kinds of
soils. Cattle eat it when young, but avoid it when the inflorescence is
mature.
_Distribution._--Throughout the plains in India, Burma and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 202.--Chloris Bournei.
1. Full plant; 2. leaf showing ligule.]
=Chloris Bournei, _Rang. & Tad._=
This grass appears to be perennial. The stems are somewhat stout,
tufted, erect or ascending geniculately from a creeping and rooting
base, varying in length from 1 to 3 feet and with internodes to 6 inches
becoming longer upwards.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are equal to or longer than the internodes at the
base, but shorter above, glabrous, compressed, distichous, bearded
towards the mouth and with membranous margins. The _ligule_ is a narrow
membranous ridge. _Nodes_ are thickened, deeply purple ringed, glabrous
and the lower nodes always with a fan-like tuft of flattened
leaf-sheaths and leaves.
The _leaf-blades_ are linear, finely acuminate, slightly broadened and
rounded at the base, keeled, the upper surface scaberulous and with a
few scattered long hairs especially towards the base, smooth or slightly
scaberulous below, 1 to 9 inches by 1/12 to 1/4 inch.
The _inflorescence_ consists of digitately arranged spikes 1-1/2 to 4
inches long on a peduncle which is sometimes 15 inches long. _Spikes_
are stout, purple-tinged, three to seven and even nine in some
specimens, shortly stalked, the base of the stalk being slightly swollen
and villous at the base, the rachis is slender, somewhat villous towards
the base.
[Illustration: Fig. 203.--Chloris Bournei.
1 to 5. The glumes in order; 3a and 3b. the third glume and its palea;
3c. flower; 4a and 4b. the fourth glume and its palea; 5a. fifth glume;
6. a spikelet with four awned glumes; 7. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are about 1/8 inch excluding the awn, very shortly
pedicelled, biseriate, unilateral, disarticulating above the first two
glumes which are persistent, purplish or pale, 1- to 3-flowered, usually
3- to 4-awned and sometimes 5-awned; _awns_ are purplish 3/16 to 5/16
inch long, finely scabrid. There are five or seven _glumes_ in a
spikelet. The _first glume_ is hyaline, purplish or pale, about 1/10
inch long, lanceolate, sub-acuminate, 1-nerved with a scaberulous keel.
The _second glume_ is hyaline, about one and half times as long as the
first, oblong elliptic, minutely 2-lobed at the apex, with a minute
mucro between, 1-nerved with a scabrid keel. The _third glume_ is as
long as the second, awned, pale or purple, ovate or obovate, narrowed at
the base and clasping the rachilla at its base, apex shortly 2-fid with
a purple dorsal awn, 3-nerved paleate; the two marginal nerves are
densely bearded with long white or purple tinged hairs from near the
base to almost the apex and the mid-nerve also similarly bearded with
long hairs on both sides, and the base with a tuft of long hairs; the
palea is as long as the glume, coriaceous obovately-cuneate, obtuse,
minutely bifid, purple-tipped, with folded hyaline margins, 2-keeled;
keels shortly ciliate. _Stamens_ three with yellow or purple anthers,
_ovary_ with two feathery _stigmas_ and two _lodicules_. Grain is oblong
shining light reddish brown, narrowed at both ends and somewhat
trigonous. The remaining glumes _fourth_ to _seventh_ are borne by the
rachilla, thinly chartaceous, broadly obcordate or obovate, gradually
diminishing in size, purple-tinged, 3- to 5-nerved, scaberulous. The
fourth and fifth glumes are empty and epaleate when the spikelets are
five glumed. If there are six glumes, the _fourth_ bears stamens and the
ovary, the _fifth_ and _sixth glumes_ are empty, and in spikelets of
seven glumes, the third, fourth, and the fifth glumes are flower-bearing
and contain grains, and the remaining two glumes are empty.
This species is a tall robust one resembling _Chloris barbata_ in its
inflorescence, but with larger spikelets--as large as those of _Chloris
tenella_. No doubt it is closely allied to _Chloris barbata_, but
differs from it by having larger spikelets that are 3- to 5-awned and 1-
to 3-flowered, and the nerves being bearded throughout their length with
long hairs.
Specimens of this grass were sent to Kew and Calcutta herbariums for
identification and they were named _C. montana_, with which I could not
agree.
So again I sent these specimens along with specimens of what I
considered _C. montana_ to Dr. Stapf at Kew through Mr. Gamble and Dr.
Stapf wrote about these thus:--"We have not been able to match it with
any of the described species of _Chloris_ and Mr. Ranga Acharya will be
fully justified in describing it as a new species. We have had it apart
from Wight's specimen from the following collections:--(1) Sattur,
November 19, 1795, sub-Andropogon barbata, Var.? Herb Rottler. (2)
Ahmednagar-Miss Shattock (U.S. Dept. Agri.--received 1914).
(3)Tornagallu, Bellary district, 11th August 1901 (Ex herb Ranga Acharya
in Herb, Bourne No. 3594)."
_Distribution._--This grass was found growing in abundance in the fields
Nos. 13, 37 and 62 of the Agricultural College and in the grounds around
the Forest College, Coimbatore, and was also collected in Hagari and
Samalkota.
This grass grows well and is likely to prove useful, as cattle seem to
like it.
[Illustration: Fig. 204.--Chloris montana.]
=Chloris montana, _Roxb._=
This is a perennial grass usually met with on dry soils. The stems are
erect, tufted, geniculately ascending from a creeping base rooting at
the nodes, quite glabrous, varying in length from 4 inches to 4 feet.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are shorter than the internodes, flat, compressed,
glabrous, with a few hairs or not at the mouth and with membranous
margins; the uppermost sheath is spathiform enclosing the inflorescence
when young. The _ligule_ consists of only a thin ridge of short hairs
densely arranged. _Nodes_ are glabrous and dark-ringed, and with
fan-like spreading equitant leaf-sheaths and leaves more especially when
rooting.
The _leaf-blades_ are narrow linear, finely acuminate, rounded at the
base, glabrous throughout, folded flat inwards, 1/2 to 8 inches long,
1/16 to 1/8 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ consists of three to six (very rarely up to nine)
spikes, 1 to 3 inches long, connate at the base, erect and never
spreading, the peduncle is slender, long, glabrous and copiously
pubescent just below the base of the connate spikes; _rachis_ is
angular, slender and scabrid.
[Illustration: Fig. 205.--Chloris montana.
1. A portion of the spike; 2. a spikelet; 3 and 4. first and second
glumes; 5 and 5a. third glume and its palea; 6, 7, 8 and 9. fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh glumes; 10. lodicules, ovary and stamens; 11.
grain.]
The _spikelets_ are about 1/8 inch excluding the awns, shortly
pedicelled, unilateral, biseriate, thin and slender, 1-flowered, pale or
purple tinged, disarticulating above the two lower empty glumes, which
persist on the rachis, generally 4-awned, very rarely 3 or 5; _awns_ are
pale or purple, 1/8 to 5/16 inch; pedicel is short, angular, scaberulous
with a few pilose hairs; _rachilla_ is produced but is shorter than the
flowering glume. There are usually six _glumes_ in a spikelet and very
rarely five or seven glumes; of these the first two _glumes_ are
hyaline, empty, awnless; the third is flower-bearing and the rest empty,
thinly coriaceous and awned. The _first glume_ is white or lightly
purplish, small, about 1/16 inch long, lanceolate, finely acuminate,
1-nerved, and with scabrid keel. The _second glume_ is twice the first
glume in length, oblong-lanceolate, finely acuminate, 1-nerved. The
_third glume_ is broadly oblong, chartaceous, 3-nerved, bearded with
long hairs along the margins from a little above the base, and with a
tuft of hairs at the base and an awn at the apex; the palea is oblong, a
little smaller than the glume, folded along the margins. There are three
_stamens_ with pale yellow anthers. The _styles_ are white with purple
_stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are narrowly cuneate. The _fourth_ and the _fifth
glumes_ are small, epaleate, empty, oblong, cuneate, 3-nerved, awned.
The _sixth glume_ is very small, cuneate, awned.
_Distribution._--In the districts forming the Coromandel Coast and also
Gangetic plains and Ceylon.
37. Eleusine, _Gaertn._
These are annual or perennial grasses. Leaves are long or short. The
spikelets are sessile, 3 to 12 flowered, 2 to 3-seriate, secund,
laterally compressed and forming digitate whorled or capitate spikes,
not joined at the base; rachilla continuous between the flowering
glumes. The glumes in a spikelet are few to many, keeled. The first two
glumes are subequal or unequal, persistent; the first glume is 1-nerved
and the second glume is 1- to 7-nerved. The flowering glumes are
3-nerved, paleate; palea is complicate; keels are strong, scabrid or
ciliate. Lodicules are two, cuneate. Anthers are short. Styles distinct
and short. Grain is free, rugose, and the pericarp is hyaline and loose.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
Spikelets pointing upward at an acute angle with the rachis of the
spike.
Spikes 1 to 5 inches long, digitate,
erect. 1. E. indica.
Spikes 1/6 to 1/4 inch or a little
more, capitate, spreading. 2. E. brevifolia.
Spikelets spreading at right angles with
the rachis of the spike, spreading or
erect. 3. E. aegyptiaca.
=Eleusine indica, _Gaertn._=
This is a tufted annual grass with short, erect, somewhat compressed,
glabrous stems, 1 to 2 feet high.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are compressed, distichous, ciliate. The _ligule_ is
a ridge of hairs.
The _leaf-blades_ are narrow-linear, as long as the stem, glabrous or
with a few scattered hairs near the mouth, acuminate, base not
contracted, 12 to 20 inches long and 1/8 to 1/6 inch broad.
The _spikes_ are elongate, digitate, 2 to 7, 2 to 5 inches long, all in
a terminal whorl and sometimes with one or two lower down, and with the
axils glandular and hairy; the _rachis_ is slender and dorsally
flattened.
[Illustration: Fig. 206.--Eleusine indica.
1. A portion of the spike; 2. a spikelet; 3. flowering glumes and their
palea with the rachis; 4 and 5. the first two glumes; 6 and 7. flowering
glume and its palea; 8. the ovary, stamens and the lodicules; 9 and 10.
grain.]
The _spikelets_ are variable in size, 1/12 to 1/6 inch, 3 to 5, rarely
6-flowered, quite glabrous, biseriate, pointing upward at an acute angle
with the rachis. All the glumes are more or less membranous. The _first
glume_ is small, oblong-ovate or oblong, 1-nerved with a scabrid keel.
The _second glume_ is twice the size of the first, ovate-oblong,
3-nerved, rarely 3- to 7-nerved, glabrous, shortly mucronate at the
acute apex. The _third glume_ and the succeeding flowering glumes are
larger than the second, ovate-oblong, subacute, 3-nerved and paleate;
_palea_ is shorter than the glume, glabrous. _Stamens_ are three.
_Lodicules_ are small and cuneate. The grain is oblong, obtusely
trigonous, broadly and shallowly grooved dorsally with concentric minute
tubercled ridges covered with a loose pericarp.
This grass is fairly common in somewhat wet places in the plains and low
hills.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.
=Eleusine brevifolia, _Br._=
This is an annual grass. Stems are creeping and spreading from the root,
and ascending from a decumbent base, generally slender and small, but
sometimes large and proliferously branched, leafy, 3 to 7 inches long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed and glabrous. The _ligule_ is a very
short membrane, ciliate at the margin or obsolete.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, acute, with a subcordate or rounded base 1/2
to 2 inches long and 1/8 to 1/6 inch broad.
The _spikes_ are usually many, sessile and crowded in globose heads,
varying in diameter from 1/3 to 2/3 inch.
[Illustration: Fig. 207.--Eleusine brevifolia.
1. A spikelet; 2 and 3. the first and the second glumes; 4 and 5. the
third glume and its palea 6. lodicules, ovary and stamens.]
_Spikelets_ are sessile, biseriate, ovate-oblong, 1/8 to 1/6 inch long,
4- to 10-flowered. The _first two glumes_ are membranous, ovate-oblong,
glabrous, acuminate and shortly awned, the _first glume_ is shorter than
the second, 1- to 3-nerved, the _second glume_ is longer than the first,
3- to 5-nerved, and the nerves are very close to the middle one in the
keel. The _third_ and the succeeding _glumes_ are ovate, cuspidately
acuminate, 3-nerved, nerves villous below the middle and paleate;
_palea_ is oblong, lanceolate, truncate and minutely 2-toothed, keels
villous below the middle. _Anthers_ are small. _Lodicules_ are also
small and cuneate. _Styles_ are long and slender. Grain is orbicular to
ovate, concavo-convex, red-brown, and transversely rugose.
This grass is usually found in somewhat damp situations all over the
Presidency, though somewhat local in its distribution.
_Distribution._--Sandy shores of the Coromandel and Carnatic coasts.
[Illustration: Fig. 208.--Eleusine aegyptiaca.]
=Eleusine aegyptiaca, _Desf._=
This grass is an annual with erect or creeping branches. Stems are erect
or prostrate, compressed, smooth, spreading and rooting at the nodes, 6
to 18 inches long. Nodes are thickened and sometimes proliferous.
The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed and glabrous. The _ligule_ is short and
membranous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, tapering to a fine point, flat, glaucous,
glabrous or hairy, 1 to 6 inches long and 1/12 to 1/6 inch, wide.
[Illustration: Fig. 209.--Eleusine aegyptiaca.
1. Front and back views of a portion of spike; 2. a spikelet; 3 and 4.
the first and the second glumes; 5 and 6. flowering glume and its palea;
7. ovary and anthers.]
_Spikes_ are digitate, 2 to 6, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. _Spikelets_ are
flat, densely crowded on one side of the floral axis, spreading at right
angles, 3- to 5-flowered, _glumes_ five to seven. The _first glume_ is
ovate acute. The _second glume_ is equal to the first or slightly
longer, broadly ovate, awned. The flowering _glumes_ are ovate,
mucronate or awned, paleate; _palea_ is shorter than the glume,
ovate-oblong, obtuse or 2-fid. _Anthers_ are small. Grain is reddish,
rugose and sub-globose.
This is a very common grass occurring as a weed in cultivated fields and
in open places. It is a well-known fodder grass.
_Distribution._--Throughout the plains in India and Ceylon.
38. Dinebra, _Jacq._
These are leafy annual grasses. The inflorescence is a narrow pyramidal
raceme of slender, spreading or deflexed spikes. Spikelets are small,
biseriate and crowded on one side of the spike and not jointed at the
base; rachilla is slender, jointed and produced beyond the flowering
glumes and bearing an imperfect glume. There are four to five glumes.
The first two glumes are the longest, lanceolate, 1-nerved, keeled and
awned. The second glume is slightly longer than the first. The third and
the fourth glumes are very small, hyaline, broadly ovate, 1-nerved.
Lodicules are present. Stamens are three and anthers didymous and small.
Grain is narrowly ovoid and trigonous.
[Illustration: Fig. 210.--Dinebra arabica.
1. Full plant; 2. leaf showing the ligule.]
=Dinebra arabica, _Jacq._=
This grass is an annual with stems erect or with a geniculate base,
tufted, slender or stout; some of the lower nodes of the geniculate part
of the stems bear roots; the internodes are green or purple tinged and
glabrous.
The _leaf-sheath_ is thin, somewhat loose, usually glabrous, rarely
sparsely hairy. The _ligule_ is a short membrane irregularly cut at the
top. The _nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, very finely acuminate, rough on both the
surfaces, thinly and very sparsely hairy; the base of the blade is
contracted and purple tinged towards the margin, midrib is prominent
with three or four main veins on each side; the margins are very finely,
closely serrate.
[Illustration: Fig. 211.--Dinebra arabica.
1 and 2. The front and back view of a portion of a spike; 3. spikelet;
4, 5 and 6. the first, second and third glumes; 7. palea of the third
glume; 8. lodicules, ovary and stamens.]
The _inflorescence_ is a long erect narrow pyramidal panicle varying in
length from 2 to 16 inches; the lower branches sometimes bear several
spikes and attain 6 inches in length; the _peduncles_ are short or long,
purple tinged and the main _rachis_ is smooth except at the top, angular
and grooved. The _spikes_ are numerous, greenish or purple tinged,
slender, erect or spreading or sometimes deflexed, opposite, alternate
or in fascicles of two to four varying in length from 1/4 to 2-1/2
inches; the _rachis_ of the spike is trigonous, flattened out ventrally
and with a ridge on the ventral side and the margins are scabrid.
The _spikelets_ are few to many in a spike, alternate, closely
imbricating, sessile, about 1/6 inch long including the awns, usually
three flowered, rarely less or four flowered; the _rachilla_ is very
slender, jointed at the base, produced and jointed between the flowering
glumes.
There are usually five _glumes_ in a spikelet and in some four or six.
The _first_ and the _second glumes_ are lanceolate narrowed into short
stiff awns, equal or the second a little longer, hyaline glabrous,
strongly keeled about 1/6 inch long or a little less. The _succeeding
glumes_ third, fourth and fifth are very much shorter than the first two
glumes, about 1/10 inch or less, ovate-oblong, subacute, white,
membranous with a strong greenish nerve along the keel and two short
ones close to the margin, paleate; _palea_ is shorter than the glume,
membranous, oblong-obtuse, minutely 2-toothed, 2-nerved and 2-keeled.
_Stamens_ are three with small anthers. _Stigmas_ are white when young
and purple when mature. _Lodicules_ are very minute. The grain is pale,
brownish yellow, ellipsoidal-oblong, subacute, trigonous, rough and
never smooth, with a shallow groove on the dorsal side; the embryo is
about one-third the length of the grain.
This grass grows abundantly in cultivated dry fields all over the
Presidency. The spikes when mature become very rough and give an acid
taste. Cattle greedily eat this grass when young, but when old and in
full flower some cattle do not like it so much.
_Distribution._--Throughout the Presidency in the plains. Also occurs in
Afghanistan and westward to Senegal.
39. Leptochloa, _Beauv._
These are tall slender annual grasses. Spikelets are very small,
compressed, 1- to 6-flowered, sessile or shortly pedicelled, alternate
and unilateral on the branches of a panicle; the rachilla is produced
between the flowering glumes, jointed at the base. There are 3 to 8
glumes. The first two glumes are unequal, oblong or lanceolate,
1-nerved. The third and the succeeding ones are broadly ovate, 3-nerved,
paleate. Lodicules are two. Stamens are three. Grain is sub-globose,
oblong or trigonous, closely invested by the glume and its palea.
=Leptochloa chinensis, _Nees._=
This is a tall annual grass. Stems are erect or geniculately ascending
from a creeping root-stock, varying in length from 2 to 4 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, loose, the lower often broad and open. The
_ligule_ is a short hyaline lacerated membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrowly linear, finely acuminate, somewhat
coriaceous, glabrous, 6 to 18 inches long and 1/6 to 1/4 inch broad.
The _inflorescence_ is a contracted panicle, 6 to 18 inches long with
spreading or suberect, alternate or opposite spikes which are capillary
and vary from 2 to 4 inches in length.
[Illustration: Fig. 212.--Leptochloa chinensis.
1. A portion of the spike; 2 and 3. the first and the second glume; 4
and 5 the flowering glume and its palea; 6. the stamens and the ovary.]
The _spikelets_ are small, shortly stalked, 4- to 8-flowered, 1/10 to
1/6 inch with the _rachilla_ produced between the flowering glumes. The
_first glume_ is small, oblong, obtuse or apiculate. The _second glume_
is similar to the first but twice as long as the first glume. The _third
glume_ and the succeeding flowering glumes are ovate-oblong, obtuse or
apiculate, with sub-marginal lateral veins; _palea_ are broadly oblong
with silkily ciliate keels. _Anthers_ are usually very small. Grain is
oblong, obtusely trigonous, or concavo-convex, red-brown and rugulose on
the ventral side.
This grass is very common amidst paddy in wet lands and in wet
situations.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon in wet places. Also in
China, Japan and Australia.