TRIBES VII AND VIII--FESTUCACEAE AND HORDEAE.
=Festucaceae= is of minor importance as it is not well represented in the
South India. Only about half a dozen genera occur and most of them on
the hills. The spikelets are usually 2- or more-flowered, pedicelled and
in panicles, open or contracted. The rachilla is produced beyond the
flowering glumes and articulate at the base just above the empty glumes.
Inflorescence a raceme, spikelets 2- to
3-flowered, turbinate; glumes single-awned. 40. Pommereulla.
Inflorescence paniculate, spikelets few
or many-flowered, glumes many-nerved
and many-awned. 41. Pappophorum.
Inflorescence various, spikelets 2- to
many-flowered, flowering glumes 1-
to 3-nerved entire, empty glumes
shorter than the lowest flowering
glume, grain very minute. 42. Eragrostis.
=Hordeae= is also a minor tribe and is represented by only one genus in
South India.
The spikelets are one-or more-flowered, sessile, 1- or 2-seriate on the
rachis, and somewhat sunk in cavities; the rachilla is jointed at the
base and is produced beyond the flowering glumes, glumes awned or not.
Spikelets 1- to 3-flowered, first glume very
minute or wanting, second as long as the
hyaline, third spike compressed, solitary. 43. Oropetium.
40. Pommereulla, _Linn. f._
This is a short, stout, creeping perennial grass. Spikelets are 2- to
3-flowered, distichously racemed, narrowly turbinate, villous. Glumes
are 5 to 7 in a spikelet. The first two glumes are narrow, membranous,
persistent, the first glume being 1-nerved and shorter than the second
which is 3- to 5-nerved. The third and the fourth glumes embracing the
fifth and the sixth are empty, flabelliform, 4-lobed, and dorsally
shortly awned. The fifth, sixth and the seventh are cuneate, obovate and
3-lobed, palea ovate, acute, and pubescent. Lodicules are two and
membranous. Stamens are two to three with small anthers. Grain is
oblong, compressed and free.
[Illustration: Fig. 213.--Pommereulla Cornucopiae.]
=Pommereulla Cornucopiae, _Linn. f._=
This is a short, stout perennial grass with stems rooting at the nodes;
branches are flat, short, densely leafy, 2 to 6 inches long.
The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, equitant with thinly membranous margins.
The _ligule_ is a ciliated ridge.
The _leaf-blade_ is flat, linear, distichous, coriaceous, rounded at the
tip, margins sparsely ciliate, 1 to 2-1/2 inches long.
The _inflorescence_ is a terminal raceme, 1/2 to 2 inches long, half
hidden by the uppermost leaf-sheath, the peduncle is flattened and 1 to
2-1/2 inches long; rachis is also flattened with a tuft of long silky
hairs at the base.
[Illustration: Fig. 214.-Pommereulla Cornucopiae.
1. A leaf; 2. inflorescence; 3. spikelet; 4 and 5. the second and the
first glume; 6 and 7. the third and the fourth glume; 8 and 9. the fifth
flowering glume and its palea; 10 and 11. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are shortly pedicelled or sessile, dorsally compressed,
cuneiform, about 1/3 inch, glistening, villous, not articulate at the
base, 2- to 3-flowered, rachilla is narrowed downwards, resembling a
callus and villous, jointed at the acute base above the empty glumes,
and crowned with broad obconic empty awned glumes. The spikelets have
usually seven, rarely eight glumes. The _first_ and the _second glumes_
are narrow, membranous, glistening, empty and persistent and the others
are coriaceous with membranous margins. The _first glume_ is linear or
linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 1-nerved, scaberulous along the nerve. The
_second glume_ is longer than the first, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate,
narrowed towards the base, inserted much above the first glume and
embracing the rachilla, 3-nerved, scaberulous along the mid-nerve at the
base only. The _third_ and _fourth glumes_ are half-amplexicaul, empty,
epaleate, flabelliform, 4-lobed, 7-nerved, shortly awned at the back,
villous; the side lobes are acuminate or aristate and the central lobes
are shortly awned. The _fifth_, _sixth_ and _seventh glumes_ are
obovate-cuneate, 7- to 9-nerved, paleate, flower-bearing and 3-lobed,
the side lobes are acuminate and the central lobe is bifid and dorsally
awned; palea is ovate-acute, 2-nerved and ciliolate. The _eighth glume_,
if present, is neuter and imperfect, 3-lobed and shortly awned.
_Lodicules_ are minute. _Stamens_ are two or three with small anthers.
Grain is oblong, compressed, reddish brown.
This grass generally grows in gravelly and somewhat alkaline soils. So
far this has been noticed and collected in Chingleput and Nellore
districts.
_Distribution._--Mysore and the Carnatic, and Ceylon.
41. Pappophorum, _Nees._
This is a perennial grass. Spikelets are contracted spiciform panicles,
1- to 3-flowered, rachilla is jointed at the base. There are 5 to 7
glumes in the spikelet. The _first_ and the _second glumes_ are
membranous, keeled 3- to many-nerved, persistent. The _third_ and the
fourth glumes are much shorter (excluding the awns) than the first two,
coriaceous, orbicular, concave, obscurely many-nerved, cleft into nine
or more equal or alternately longer long-ciliate erect awns. The fourth
and the subsequent glumes are imperfect and they get gradually smaller
and smaller, the last glume being represented only by a rudimentary
glume with three awns. Lodicules are dolabriform and two. Stamens are
three. Styles are free. Grain is obovoid or oblong, free.
[Illustration: Fig. 215.--Pappophorum elegans.]
=Pappophorum elegans, _Nees._=
This grass is perennial with wiry roots. Stems are erect ascending from
a swollen woody base, thinly hairy and rarely glabrous, pale green and
sometimes with red blotches, wiry, varying in length from 1 to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is thinly pubescent, some hairs being minutely
gland-tipped.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, linear-lanceolate, sharply acuminate,
covered both above and below with hairs, many of which being minutely
gland-tipped, convolute when young. The _ligule_ is a ridge of hairs.
Nodes are pubescent.
The _inflorescence_ is a panicle with short branches, 1 to 3 inches
long, rachis is pubescent; peduncle is 2 to 4 inches long, pubescent.
The _spikelets_ are pale green, sometimes purple tinged and appearing
white when mature, softly pubescent, about 1/4 inch long including the
awn; the rachilla is produced and disarticulates above the two lower
glumes.
[Illustration: Fig. 216.--Pappophorum elegans.
1 and 2. The first and second glumes; 3. the third glume and its palea;
4. palea of the third glume; 5. lodicules, stamens and ovary; 6 and 7.
fourth glume and its palea; 8 and 9. fifth glume and its palea; 10 and
11. sixth and seventh glumes.]
There are 6 or 7 glumes in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is
lanceolate, acute, softly hairy, usually 9-nerved, or varying from 7 to
12 (some nerves do not reach the apex), about 1/4 inch long. The _second
glume_ is similar to the first but a little longer and both the glumes
have broad hyaline margins. The _third glume_ is broadly orbicular,
concave, sub-chartaceous, 9-nerved, densely villous and with a tuft of
hairs at the base where it joins the rachilla, cleft into 9 awn-like
lobes, bisexual and paleate; the awns are alternately long and short,
subulate, plumose in the lower half and scabrid above, the palea is
oblong-ovate, sub-chartaceous, with two pubescent keels, bifid at the
apex, and with 3 purple anthers. The _ovary_ is ovoid or ovoid-oblong,
with two white stigmas. _Lodicules_ are two, small cuneate or quadrate.
Grain ovoid or ovoid-oblong. The _fourth_ _glume_ is similar to the
third glume but smaller, paleate with rudimentary anthers and two fleshy
lodicules. The _fifth_, _sixth_ and _seventh glumes_ are imperfect and
gradually decreasing in size, and with awns varying in number from 5 to
8, 3 to 5, and 1 to 3, respectively, minutely paleate or not.
This grass grows well in black cotton and rich loamy soils and is a
hardy one. Cattle seem to eat this grass.
_Distribution._--Fairly common in the plains in the Deccan districts and
in the Coromandel coast districts.
42. Eragrostis, _Beauv._
These are slender, glabrous, annual or perennial grasses. Stems are
usually erect or geniculately ascending, very rarely prostrate. Leaves
are narrow. Inflorescences are open or contracted panicles, rarely
spikes. Spikelets are usually strongly laterally compressed, 2, to
many-flowered and not articulate at the base; rachilla is tough and
persistent, jointed above the empty glumes and in some also between the
flowering glumes, not produced beyond the last glume. Glumes are many,
broad, obtuse, acute or mucronate, never awned, dorsally rounded and
keeled; the first and the second glumes are much shorter than the
spikelet, equal or unequal, empty, persistent or separately deciduous,
1-nerved or the second 3-nerved, usually membranous. Flowering glumes
are imbricating, at length deciduous from the rachilla, 3-nerved, all
bisexual or the uppermost and rarely the lowest imperfect, ovate to
lanceolate, membranous to chartaceous, usually glabrous, the lateral
nerves short not reaching the mid nerve; palea are broad, membranous,
deciduous with its glume or persistent on the rachilla with two ciliate
smooth or scabrid keels. Stamens are three rarely two. Ovary is glabrous
with two styles ending in plumose stigmas. Grain is minute, globose,
obgloboid or obovoid, free in the glume and the palea.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
A. Spikelets panicled.
B. Rachilla of spikelets more or
less jointed and breaking up from
above downwards.
Panicle more or less contracted
and margin of flowering
glumes not ciliate.
Spikelets 1/20 to 1/6 inch
long; grain obovoid;
stamens 2; panicle narrow
interrupted, 6 to 18 inches
long 1. E. interrupta.
BB. Rachilla of spikelets tough, persistent;
flowering glumes falling
away from base upwards.
C. Spikelets pedicellate.
Spikelets flat, ovate-elliptic
or oblong, lateral nerves of
flowering glumes very prominent
and straight, almost
percurrent; palea deciduous
with their glumes 2. E. amabilis.
Spikelets less compressed,
linear or linear-oblong;
lateral nerves less prominent;
not fascicled, long
pedicellate and divaricate
when ripe.
Leaf margins without
glands. Spikelets versatile,
narrow, linear 1
inch or more long,
branches of panicle
solitary 3. E. tremula.
Leaf margins glandular.
First glume 1-nerved and
second glume 3-nerved 4. E. major.
First glume and second
glume 1-nerved 5. E. Willdenoviana.
Spikelets small, 1/4 inch or
less, branches of panicle
whorled 6. E. pilosa.
CC. Spikelets sessile and
jointed on the very short
densely crowded branchlets
of a tall, narrow raceme
like panicle, deciduous,
acute, much compressed,
imbricate and secund 7. E. cynosuroides.
AA. Spikelets in a long terminal spike.
Spikelets distichously spreading,
secund, keels of palea winged 8. E. bifaria.
=Eragrostis interrupta, _Beauv._=
(_Var. Koenigii_, Stapf.)
This is a tall grass, annual or perennial, with erect stems 1 to 3 feet
or more.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and close. The _ligule_ is a short,
fimbriate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.
The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, flat, acuminate, glabrous on both sides, 3
to 10 inches long.
The _panicle_ is erect, narrow, contracted, with branches in
pseudo-whorls and varying in length from 6 to 18 inches, branches are
slender, filiform, two or more arising from the same level, 1 to 3
inches long.
The _spikelets_ are small, pedicellate, smooth, usually 6 to
14-flowered, pale but often tinged with red, the rachilla is jointed
between the flowering glumes, and breaks away from above downwards. The
empty _glumes_ are very small, subequal, ovate-oblong, hyaline, obtuse
and 1-nerved. Floral _glumes_ also are small but slightly longer than
the empty ones, ovate-oblong, obtuse and paleate, palea is linear-oblong
with smooth or scabrid keels. _Stamens_ are two with small anthers.
Grain is obovoid.
[Illustration: Fig. 217.--Eragrostis interrupta. Var. Koenigii.
1. Two spikelets; 2 and 3. empty glumes; 4. empty glumes with two
flowering glumes and their palea; 5. flowering glumes and palea; 6.
ovary and two stamens; 7. grain.]
This grass is a very variable plant and has a few varieties. The one
described above is Var. _Koenigii_ Stapf., and this is the one that
occurs very widely. The other two varieties which occur very rarely are
(1) _diarrhena_ Stapf. and (2) _tenuissima_ Stapf. The former is a tall
plant with very narrow panicle and spikelets and the latter either tall
or short and with a panicle bearing very slender divaricate branches.
This grass usually occurs in clayey soils especially on the bunds and in
the paddy fields.
_Distribution._--Throughout India, Burma and Ceylon. Also in tropical
Asia and Africa.
=Eragrostis amabilis, _W. & A._=
This is an annual tufted grass with slender, glabrous, erect or
geniculately ascending stems, 6 to 18 inches, leafy chiefly at the base.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and smooth. The _ligule_ is absent or very
obscure.
The _leaf-blade_ is lanceolate-linear or linear, narrowed from a broad
subcordate base to an acute tip, smooth and flat.
The _panicle_ is ovoid-oblong or oblong, open or contracted, sparingly
branched; branches are filiform, solitary, ramifying from near the base;
rachis and nodes are glabrous.
[Illustration: Fig. 218.--Eragrostis amabilis.
1. A portion of a branch with spikelets; 2. a single spikelet; 3 and 4.
empty glumes; 5. and 6. a flowering glume and its palea; 7. lodicules,
stamens and ovary; 8. grain.]
The _spikelets_ are ovate-oblong or linear-oblong, pale or purplish 1/6
to 1/2 inch, up to 50-flowered, rachilla is tough with very short
internodes. The glumes are very closely and distichously imbricating
(and hence spikelets are pretty); the _empty glumes_ are subequal,
ovate-lanceolate, acute or cuspidately acuminate, 1-nerved, 1/25 to 1/16
inch long. _Flowering glumes_ are broadly ovate or suborbicular,
mucronulate, punctulate, with the lateral nerves equidistant from the
margins and the median nerve, and produced far up towards the median
nerve; palea is broad, shorter than its glume, deciduous with it, and
with winged and scabrid keels. _Stamens_ are three. Grain is
obovoid-ellipsoid, smooth, laterally compressed, reddish-brown.
This grass is abundant in wet places on the hills and fairly common in
the plains though not abundant.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.
[Illustration: Fig. 219.--Eragrostis tremula.]
=Eragrostis tremula, _Hochst._=
This is an elegant annual grass. Stems are tufted erect or sometimes
geniculately ascending, branching freely, 6 inches to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, glabrous, shorter than the internodes,
becoming purplish when dry. The _ligule_ is a ridge of short hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, tapering to a fine point, rigid,
glabrous or sparsely hairy, but with prominent white hairs near the
mouth of the sheath at the base, 1 to 10 inches long and 1/12 to 3/16
inch broad, the base is rounded and the margin eglandular and very
finely serrate.
The _inflorescence_ is a large, effuse, nodding, pyramidal or oblong
panicle, much branched, the peduncle being as long as the rest of the
plant; branches are slender, solitary, suberect, drooping, rather
angled, scaberulous, 3 to 7 inches long with very fine capillary
branchlets; all the axils of the branches and branchlets have long white
hairs.
[Illustration: Fig. 220.--Eragrostis tremula.
1. Spikelet; 2 and 3. the first and the second glume; 4 and 5. flowering
glume and its palea; 6. stamens, ovary and lodicules.]
The _spikelets_ are linear, narrowed upwards, glabrous, flattened pale
green or purple tinged, few to 70-flowered; pedicels are slender and
capillary, longer or shorter than the spikelets; rachilla is zigzag and
glabrous. The _first two glumes_ are subequal, ovate, acute, one-nerved,
keel obscurely scaberulous, membranous. The _third_ and the succeeding
_flowering glumes_ are ovate, obtuse, as long as the second glume or
slightly longer, sub-chartaceous, glabrous, three-nerved; palea is
shorter than the glume, curved obovate oblong and persistent on the
rachilla. _Stamens_ are three with small anthers. Style branches are
two. _Lodicules_ are minute. Grain is nearly globose, compressed on one
side, obscurely rugulose.
This grass is not very widely distributed although it occurs in some
parts of the Presidency. It is common on the West Coast in sandy places.
_Distribution._--From the Punjab to Bengal and Burma and Southward to
Carnatic. Also said to occur in Afghanistan and Tropical Africa.
[Illustration: Fig. 221.--Eragrostis major.]
=Eragrostis major, _Host._=
This is an annual tufted grass. Stems are erect or geniculately
ascending, usually short, leafy and branched below, glabrous and
shining, 1/2 to 2 feet long.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, striate, shorter than the internodes,
keeled with tubercles or glands on the keel and also on some of the
smaller nerves on the sides, and bearded with long white hairs
externally at the mouth. The nodes are glabrous purple, shining and with
a glandular ring below. The _ligule_ is a ridge of long hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate or linear, tapering to a fine
point, glabrous, flaccid, margins finely serrulate and glandular, base
rounded, varying in length from 1/2 to 10 inches and in breadth 3/16 to
7/16 inch; the midrib is prominent and with a row of glands beneath and
there are 3 to 5 lateral nerves on each side of the mid-nerve.
[Illustration: Fig. 222.--Eragrostis major.
1. A branch with spikelets; 2 and 3. empty glumes; 4 and 5. flowering
glume and its palea; 6. grain.]
The _panicle_ is ovate or ovate-oblong, on a short, smooth peduncle,
usually open and stiff; branches are usually many, sub-solitary or
fascicled, spreading or suberect, capillary, stiff, again branching from
near the base and about 3 inches long; _rachis_ is angular, with glands
and tufts of sparse white hairs at the angles of branches and
branchlets.
_Spikelets_ are linear to ovate-oblong, compressed, pale or green,
sometimes purple tinged at the base, few to 40-flowered and occasionally
up to 70-flowers, 1/8 to 1 inch.
The _empty glumes_ are subequal or the first is a little shorter, ovate,
acute, membranous, keeled, and sometimes the keels with glands; the
_first glume_ is usually one-nerved (rarely obscurely one- to
three-nerved) and the _second glume_ is three-nerved.
The _flowering glumes_ are broadly ovate, oblique, obtuse, sometimes
with a minute mucro, sub-chartaceous, punctulate, strongly three-nerved,
paleate, about 1/12 inch long; palea is shorter than the glume, curved,
obovate-oblong, keels ciliolate and persistent. _Stamens_ are three with
very small pale yellow anthers. Stigmas are two and white. _Lodicules_
are very small. Grain is globose reddish brown, minutely and obscurely
lineolate.
This grass is a very common weed occurring in cultivated dry fields all
over this Presidency.
_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon in the plains and low
hills. Occurs also in tropical and sub-tropical parts of Asia and
Africa.
[Illustration: Fig. 223.--Eragrostis Willdenoviana.]
=Eragrostis Willdenoviana, _Nees._=
This is a tufted annual. Stems are leafy at the base, erect or
geniculately ascending, slender but rigid, varying in length from 4 to
18 inches.
The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, cylindric, glabrous, outer margin ciliate;
tufts of long hairs are present at the sides of the margin of the
sheath, just outside close to the hyaline patch. The _ligule_ is a
fringe of short white hairs. The _nodes_ are greenish or with a tinge of
purple, glabrous and with a glandular ring below.
The _leaf-blade_ is lanceolate-linear, pointed, flat, rigid, the margin
is very minutely serrulate, glandular and occasionally also with fine
long hairs; the upper surface is somewhat rough, the lower smooth and
both with fine long scattered hairs or glabrous.
[Illustration: Fig. 224.--Eragrostis Willdenoviana.
1. Spikelets; 1_a._ 1st glume; 2 and 2_a._ the second glume; 3 and 3a.
the flowering glume; 4. palea of the flowering glume; 5. lodicules,
stamens and the ovary; 6. grain.]
The _inflorescence_ is a stiff open panicle, ovate to oblong, 2 to 4-1/2
inches long on a slender, terete, glabrous peduncle; the main _rachis_
is angular, slender with glandular scars, a little below the attachment
of the branches; the branches are capillary, grooved stiff and spreading
with small glandular scars just above the node. The _spikelets_ are
elliptic-oblong to linear, 1/8 to 3/4 inch by about 1/20 inch, greenish
or tinged with purple, few to about 25 (or sometimes even up to 42)
glumed, pedicellate; pedicel is capillary, grooved and angular, with a
glandular ring about the middle, spreading sometimes at right angles,
rachilla is persistent.
Empty _glumes_ are unequal. The first _glume_ is hyaline very small,
nerveless or one-nerved, subacute or subobtuse; the second _glume_ is
much longer than the first glume, ovate-oblong subacute, keeled,
membranous and one-nerved. _Flowering glumes_ vary from about 12 to 30
and in some well grown plants as many as 42, broadly ovate, obtuse or
subacute, rigidly membranous, three-nerved (one median and two marginal)
glabrous, keeled and keels are scaberulous near the apex; palea is
oblong linear, a little curved, persistent, a little smaller than the
glume, two-keeled; there are three _stamens_ with small purplish anthers
and two small _lodicules_. The grain is oblong truncate at both ends,
reddish brown, with a prominent groove on the dorsal side; embryo
occupying nearly half the length of the grain.
This grass grows abundantly in somewhat rich soils all over the
Presidency and cattle eat it. It grows quickly and bears a fair amount
of foliage.
_Distribution._--Madras Presidency in the plains; also occurs in Ceylon.
=Eragrostis pilosa, _Beauv._=
This is a densely tufted annual grass. Stems are usually erect, slender
and simple, flaccid, 3 inches to 3 feet.
The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed, glabrous and bearded with long hairs
close to the mouth. The _ligule_ is a ridge of hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is short, narrow, finely acuminate, 1-1/2 to 4 inches.
The _panicle_ is oblong to pyramidal, flaccid, open or contracted erect
or inclined, 2 to 8 inches; rachis is hairy or glabrous; branches are
very fine filiform or capillary, more or less whorled, lower six inches
long; branchlets are still finer and capillary.
[Illustration: Fig. 225.--Eragrostis pilosa.
1. A portion of a branch with spikelets; 2 and 3. empty glumes; 4.
flowering glumes; 5. palea; 6. grain.]
_Spikelets_ are linear, grey tipped with purple, or often purplish,
scattered, 1/8 to 1/5 by 1/30 to 1/20 inch, with pedicels shorter or
longer than the spikelets. The _empty glumes_ are hyaline, very unequal,
nerveless or the second which is ovate-lanceolate and larger than the
first faintly 1-nerved. The _flowering glumes_ are ovate acute, paleate,
1/10 to 1/8 inch; palea is sub-persistent and keels of palea
scaberulous. _Stamens_ are three with small violet anthers. Grain is
ellipsoid laterally pointed at the base.
This grass occurs in wet places or close to the margins of ponds, marshy
situations all over the Presidency.
_Distribution._--All over India and also in South Europe and most warm
countries.
=Eragrostis cynosuroides, _Beauv._=
This is a tall perennial grass freely branching from the base and with
stout stolons covered with shining sheaths. The root-stock is stout and
creeping. The stems are tufted, smooth, erect, with fascicles of leaves
at the base 1 to 3 feet high.
The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, slightly compressed, distinctly keeled,
as broad or slightly broader than the blade at the mouth. _Ligule_ is a
line of short hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is linear, rigid, glabrous, acuminate with filiform
tips, and finely serrulate margins, varying in length from 2 to 10
inches and the basal leaves sometimes reaching 20 inches.
The _panicle_ is strict, erect, narrowly pyramidal, often interrupted,
varying in length from 6 to 18 inches and breadth from 1/2 to 2 inches.
Branches are many, short, crowded, densely clothed from the base with
sessile, imbricating, much compressed deflexed spikelets.
[Illustration: Fig. 226.--Eragrostis cynosuroides.
1. A branch with spikelets; 2. flowering glumes with their palea; 3 and
4. empty glumes; 5 and 6. flowering glume and its palea.]
The _spikelets_ are secund, biseriate, shining, pale brown, 1/2 inch
long, up to 30-flowered. The _empty glumes_ are unequal, the second
being the larger. The _flowering glumes_ are coriaceous, ovate, acute as
long as the second or slightly longer, paleate, palea is sub-coriaceous
and shorter than the glume. _Stamens_ are three. Grain is obliquely
ovoid, laterally compressed.
This grass grows usually in moist sandy loams, sand dunes, and is very
common on the Coromandel coast and in the Deccan Districts.
_Distribution._--Throughout in the plains of India.
=Eragrostis bifaria, _Wight Ex Steud._=
This is a densely tufted perennial grass. Stems are simple, erect,
glabrous, somewhat compressed, 1 to 3 feet high, and the base clothed
with the old remains of the leaf-sheaths.
The _leaf-sheath_ is scaberulous, keeled. The _ligule_ is a line of fine
hairs.
The _leaf-blade_ is wiry, narrow, linear, flexuous, rigid, acute,
smooth, flat or complicate, keeled, 2 to 3 inches long and up to 1/6
inch wide.
The _spikes_ are solitary, 10 to 12 inches long bearing spikelets
unilaterally.
[Illustration: Fig. 227.--Eragrostis bifaria.
1 and 1_a._ Spikelets; 2. and 3. empty glumes; 4 and 5. the flowering
glume and its palea; 6. the ovary, stamens and the lodicules.]
The _spikelets_ are ovate or ovoid to oblong, much compressed, usually
15- to 20-flowered and up to 40 and then linear, 1/4 to 2/3 inch long,
spreading, green or olive grey. The _empty glumes_ are one-nerved and
keeled. The _first glume_ is longer than the second glume, very acute or
acuminate. The _second glume_ is smaller than the first, with stout
rounded keel. The _flowering glumes_ are as long or slightly shorter
than the first glume, broadly ovate, sub-acuminate, with faint nerves
and paleate; _palea_ is shorter than its glume and with ciliate wings to
the keel. _Stamens_ are three. Grain is free.
This grass is very common in the plains in somewhat wet situations all
over the Presidency.
_Distribution._--Deccan Peninsula in India and also in Tropical Africa.
43. Oropetium, _Trin._
A very small densely tufted erect annual. Leaves are filiform. The
inflorescence is a simple slender curved spike. Spikelets are very
minute, one-flowered, half immersed in the alternating distichous
cavities of the rachis of the spike; rachilla is bearded. There are
three glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is very minute, empty,
hyaline and persistent. The second glume is linear-lanceolate, rigid,
empty, persistent recurved when old, tip obtuse or emarginate. The third
glume is shorter broader, hyaline, one-nerved, obtuse or truncate,
_palea_ is narrow with smooth keel. Lodicules are not found. Stamens are
three. Grain is oblong terete and free.
=Oropetium Thomaeum, _Trin._=
This is a very small densely tufted annual grass, never exceeding 3
inches in height and with compressed slender, tough stems.
The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed, membranous, short and open. The
_ligule_ is an erect lacerate membrane.
The _leaf-blade_ is filiform, shorter or longer than the stem, erect or
curved, coriaceous with the margins sparsely ciliate with long strict
hairs, 1/2 to 1 inch long.
The _spikes_ are solitary or fascicled curved on very short branches 1
to 1-1/2 inches long; rachis is green, undulating, tetragonous, with a
broad central nerve on the flat faces.
[Illustration: Fig. 228.--Oropetium Thomaeum.
1. Spike; 2. spikelet; 3 and 4. empty glumes; 5. flowering glume; 6 and
7. flowering glume and its palea; 8. the ovary, stamens and lodicules.]
The _spikelets_ are very small, one-flowered, half immersed in the
alternating distichous cavities of the rachis. There are three _glumes_
in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is very minute, hyaline and sunk in
the hollow of the rachis. The _second glume_ is the longest,
linear-lanceolate, rigid, tip obtuse or emarginate, slightly convex with
a broad thickened centre and recurved in fruit. The _third glume_ is
shorter than the second, hyaline, broader obtuse, semi-circular in
profile, excessively membranous, with the callus bearded and paleate;
_palea_ is smaller than the glume. There are three stamens. Grain is
oblong, terete, free.
This small grass is very common all over the Presidency in the plains in
moist places.
_Distribution._--Plains of India, Burma and Ceylon.
GLOSSARY.
A
Acuminate applied to the apex of a leaf having a gradually
diminishing point, 49.
Acute applied to the apex of a leaf distinctly and sharply
pointed but not drawn out, 53.
Adventitious roots which do not arise from the radicle or its
roots subdivisions, but from parts other than these, 7.
Aleurone layer a special peripheral layer in the grain of grasses,
consisting of cells filled with proteid granules, 18.
Amplexicaul applied to the base of the leaf when it embraces the
stem, 12.
Apiculate said of the apex when it has a sharp, short point.
Appressed lying flat for the whole length of the part or organ,
59.
Articulate jointed, 45.
Auricle outgrowth at the sides close to the ligular region,
11.
Awned having an _awn_, that is, a bristle-like appendage,
especially on the glumes of grasses.
B
Bifarious disposed in two rows or ranks on the two sides, 49.
Binate in pairs, 53.
Blade the expanded portion of a leaf, 2, 10.
Bristles stiff hairs, 45.
Bulbous based having an inflated base, 66.
Bulliform cells thin walled cells occurring, at intervals, on the
epidermis of some grasses, 35.
Bundle sheath sclerenchymatous cells or fibres found round the
vascular bundles of the monocotyledonous type, such as
those of grasses, 20.
C
Callus the projecting part or an extension of the flowering
glume below its point of insertion, 168.
Caryopsis a one-celled, one-seeded, superior fruit in which the
pericarp has fused with the seed-coat.
Chartaceous papery, i.e., thin and somewhat rough, 47.
Ciliate fringed with hairs, 54.
Ciliolate very sparsely fringed with hairs, 70.
Clavate club-shaped, 104.
Clavellate thickened towards the apex, 252.
Coleorhiza the sheath of a monocotyledonous embryo which is
pierced by the radicle during germination, 18.
Collar the white or colourless band at the base of the blade
of a grass leaf just where it joins the sheath, 3.
Conduplicate folded together lengthwise, 12.
Convolute rolled round from one margin to the other, so that one
margin is inside and the other outside, 12.
Coriaceous leathery, 49.
Corymbosely arranged in corymbs, i.e., flat-topped flower
clusters, 56.
Crinite bearded with weak, long hairs, 137.
Crisped curled, 59.
Cuneate wedge-shaped or triangular, 49.
Cuspidate tipped with a small triangular piece at the apex, 70.
D
Decumbent reclining but with the upper part ascending, 80.
Digitate lingered, arranged at the end of the stalk, 51.
Dioecious having the sexes separated on two distinct
individuals, 45.
Distichous two-ranked or two-rowed, 19.
E
Embryo young plant contained in the seed, 18.
Endodermis the innermost layer of the cortex abutting on and
forming a sheathing layer round the stele, 32.
Exodermis the layer or layers of thickened cells beneath the
piliferous layer of roots, 32.
Extra vaginal applied to shoots or branches that come out piercing
the leaf sheath in grasses, 9.
F
Fascicle a cluster or bundle, 95.
Filiform thread shaped, slender and thin, 54.
Flexuous bent alternately in opposite directions, 62.
Foveolate marked with small pits, 180.
G
Geniculately bent abruptly so as to resemble a knee-joint, 118.
Geminate in pairs, 59.
Germ-sheath a sheath enclosing the bud or the plumule in a grain,
18.
Gibbous convex or rounded, 77.
Glabrescent slightly hairy but becoming glabrous, 89.
Glabrous quite smooth without hairs, 89.
Glaucous covered with a bloom, 160.
Glume the chaffy two-ranked members found in the
inflorescence of grasses.
H
Hirsute covered with fairly long distinct hairs, 90.
Hyaline colourless or translucent, 51.
I
Imbricate overlapping, 49.
Internode portion of a stem between two nodes, 2.
Intravaginal growing out from inside the sheath.
Involucel a ring of bracts surrounding several spikelets, 120.
K
Keeled having a ridge along the length, 59.
L
Lemma the flowering glume of a grass, 15.
Ligule the thin, scarious projection found at the top of the
leaf sheath where it joins the blade in grasses, 3.
Lodicule a small scale outside the stamens in the flower of
grasses.
M
Membranous thin and semi-transparent, 51.
Monoecious stamens and pistils on separate flowers, but on the
same individual, 144.
Motor cells large thin-walled cells occurring in the epidermis of
the leaves of some grasses, 35.
Mucronate possessing a short and a straight point, 70.
N
Node the part of the stem which has a leaf, or the knot in
the grass stem, 2.
P
Palea the inner glume in the spikelet of grasses, 4.
Pectinate pinnatifid with narrow segments which are set close
like the teeth of a comb, 162.
Pericycle the outermost zone of cells of the stele immediately
within the endodermis, 32.
Phloem the portion of the vascular bundle towards the cortex,
19.
Pileole another name for germ-sheath, or the sheath covering
the plumule in the grain, 18.
Piliferous bearing hairs, 31.
Pistil the female organ of a flower, consisting of the ovary,
style and stigma, 16.
Plumose feathered, 51.
Prophyllum the first scale-like leaf of a branch found where it
joins the main stem, 10.
Protandry anthers ripening before the pistil in the same flower,
(proterandry). 16.
Protogyny pistil ripening before the anthers in the same flower,
(proterogyny). 16.
Puberulous slightly hairy, 62.
Pubescent clothed with soft hair, 62.
Punctate marked with dots, pits or glands, 63.
Pungent ending in a rigid and sharp point, 59.
R
Raceme a centrifugal or indeterminate inflorescence with
stalked flowers, 13.
Rachilla a secondary axis in the inflorescence of the grasses,
the axis of the spikelet, 13.
Rachis axis of an inflorescence, 13.
Retuse with a shallow notch at the apex, 67.
Rhizome root-stock or under ground stem prostrate on the
ground, 5.
Rugulose somewhat wrinkled, 90.
S
Scaberulous slightly rough due to the presence of short hairs, 69.
Scabrid somewhat rough, 75.
Scale a reduced leaf, 10.
Sclerenchyma elongated cells with pointed ends and much thickened
cell-wall.
Scutellum the single cotyledon found in connexion with the
embryo in grass grains, 18.
Secund directed to one side only, 47.
Serrate beset with small teeth on the margin, 83.
Setose beset with bristles, 102.
Sheath the tubular lower part of a leaf in grasses, 2.
Spathaceous having a large bract enclosing a flower cluster, 104.
Spiciform spike-like, 13.
Spike an inflorescence with sessile flowers on an elongated
axis, the older flowers being lower down and the
younger towards the top, 13.
Squarrose rough with outstanding processes, 120.
Stipe a short stalk of a gynaecium, 90.
Stipitate having a short stalk, 62.
Stolon any basal branch which is disposed to root, 5.
Striolate marked with very fine longitudinal parallel lines, 49.
Sub-coriaceous somewhat leathery, 47.
Subulate finely pointed, 121.
T
Triquetrous three-sided or edged, 47.
Truncate as if cut off at the end, 60.
Tumid swollen, 66.
Turbinate cone-shaped or top shaped, 120.
X
Xylem the wood elements of the vascular bundle lying next to
the phloem, 19.
INDEX
(Small i denotes Figure Numbers.)
A
Aerial roots, 6, 8i, 9i
Agrostideae, 44, 220
Aleurone layer, 18
Andropogoneae, 44, 138
Andropogon, 15, 182
inflorescence, 13
annulatus, 204, 160i, 161i
asper, 195, 155i, 156i
caricosus, 201, 159i
section of stem, 26, 33i, 34i
contortus, 5, 207, 162i, 163i
ligule, 13i
foveolatus, 185, 148i, 149i
monticola, 199, 158i
pertusus, 5, 191, 152i, 153i
pumilus, 188, 150i, 151i
Schoenanthus var. caesius, 209, 164i
Schoenanthus, ligule, 13i
Sorghum, 6, 67, 8i
section of grain, 20i, 21i
Sorghum, section of root, 32, 45i, 46i, 47i
squarrosus, 193, 154i
Wightianus, 197, 157i
Anthistiria, 211
tremula, 212, 165i
Apludeae, 139
Apluda, 170
varia, 171, 142i, 143i
Apocopis, 164
Wightii, 166, 139i, 140i
Aristida, 221
Adscenscionis, 223, 171i, 172i
funiculata, 229, 177i
Hystrix, 226, 174i
lodicules, 15
mutabilis, 228, 175i, 176i
setacea, 225, 173i
leaf structure, 36, 37, 38, 39, 54i, 55i
Arundo Donax, 9, 10i
Auricles, 11, 13i
Axonopus, 46, 106
cimicinus, 108, 107i, 108i
B
Bamboo, 11
Bearded node, 9, 11i
Blade of leaf, 10
Bristles, 45
Bundle sheath, 20, 21
C
Cambium, 19
Caryopsis, 17
Cenchrus, 46, 120
biflorus, 121, 117i
catharticus, 122, 118i
Chamaeraphis, 46, 101
spinescens, 102, 104i
Chlorideae, 44, 220
Chloris, 15, 257
barbata, 264, 199i, 200i, 201i
leaf-folding, 12, 16i
rachilla, 16
Bournei, 267, 202i, 203i
incompleta, 258, 196i
lodicules, 15
montana, 270, 204i, 205i
tenella, 259, 197i
virgata, 260, 198i
Closed vascular bundle, 19
Chlorophyllous layer, 33
Coix, 45, 140
Lachryma-Jobi, 141, 126i
unisexual spikelets, 15
Coleorhiza, 18
Collar, 3, 12
Commelina, 14
Conduplicate, 12, 16i
Convolute, 12, 16i
Cynodon, 248
Barberi, 255, 194i, 195i
dactylon, 9, 250, 190i, 191i
intermedius, 252, 192i, 193i
rachilla, 16
D
Diaphragm, 31
Digitaria, 15, 45, 51
longiflora, 59, 76i, 77i
sanguinalis, rachis, 13
sanguinalis var. ciliaris, 51, 53, 71i, 72i
sanguinalis var. extensum, 56, 74i, 75i
sanguinalis var. Griffithii, 54, 73i
Dinebra, 277
arabica, 279, 210i, 211i
rachilla, 16
spikelet, 14, 17i
E
Eleusine, 272
aegyptiaca, 5i, 276, 208i, 209i
leaf folding, 12, 16i
brevifolia, 274, 207i
indica, 273, 206i
Embryo, 18
Endodermis, 32
Enteropogon, 246
melicoides, 247, 189i
inflorescence, 13
Epidermis, 21
of leaf, 34, 49i, 50i
Eragrostis, 292
amabilis, 295, 218i
bifaria, 307, 227i
cynosuroides, 306, 226i
interrupta var. Koenigii, 294, 217i
Tr. section of stem, 27, 36i
major, 12, 300, 221i, 222i
pilosa, 305, 225i
tremula, 297, 219i, 220i
panicle, 13
Willdenoviana, 303, 223i, 224i
leaf margin, 12
leaf structure, 37, 39, 56i, 57i
panicle, 13, 14
Eremochloa, 162
muricata, 163, 138i
Eriochloa, 15, 45, 60
polystachya, 62, 78i, 79i
structure of leaf, 35, 51i
Tr. section of stem, 22, 27i, 28i
Euandropogoneae, 139
Exodermis, 32, 46i
Extravaginal branch or shoot, 9, 10i
F
Festucaceae, 44, 283
Fibro-vascular bundle, 20
Floral diagram, 16, 19i
G
Germ sheath, 18
Glabrous node, 9, 11i
Glumes, 4, 14
Grain, 17
Gracilea, 243
nutans, 244, 187i
Royleana, 245, 188i
Ground tissue, 21
H
Hackel, 16
Heteropogon contortus, 207, 163i
Hordeae 44, 283
Hygrorhiza, 123, 126
aristata, 127, 120i
stamens, 15
I
Imperata, 146
arundinacea, 147, 128i
Internodes, 2, 21
Intravaginal branches, 8
Ischaemeae, 138
Ischaemum, 11, 150
aristatum, 151, 130i, 131i
ciliare, 159, 9i, 135i, 136i
laxum, 160, 137i
pilosum, 6, 156, 133i, 134i
rugosum, 153, 132i
Iseilema, 214
anthephoroides, 219, 169i, 170i
laxum, 216, 166i, 167i, 168i
L
Lanceolate, 11, 14i
Leaf, 9
Leaf-blade, 2, 3
Leaf-sheath, 2, 3
Leaves, forms of, 11, 14i
margins, 12, 15i
Leersia, 123, 124
hexandra, 125, 119i
stamens, 15
Lemma, 15
Leptochloa, 281
chinensis, 282, 212i
Ligule, 3
Linear, 11, 14i
Linear-lanceolate, 11, 14i
Lodicules, 4, 15, 4i
Lophopogon, 167
tridentatus, 168, 141i
M
Manisuris, 179
granularis, 180, 147i
rachis, 14
Maydeae, 138
Mnesithea, 177
laevis, 178, 146i
Motor-cells, 35, 51i, 52i, 55i, 57i, 67i, 68i
N
Nodes, 2, 9, 11i
bearded, 11i
O
Ochlandra, 15
Open vascular bundles, 19
Oropetium, 308
Oropetium Thomaeum, 309, 228i
Oryza, 19i
sativa, 10, 11, 13i
Oryzeae, 43, 123
P
Palea, 4, 14
Panicaceae, 43, 45
Paniceae, 43
Panicle, 13, 14
Panicum, 15, 16, 45, 46, 64
Panicum colonum, 11, 28, 30, 80, 89i, 90i
leaf-apex, 12
leaf-structure, 37, 38, 40, 58i, 64i
section of stem, 28, 29
crus-galli, 28, 29, 30, 75, 78, 6i, 40i, 86i, 87i
distachyum, 92, 97i, 98i
flavidum, 28, 30, 69, 82i, 83i
T. section of stem, 37i, 38i
leaf-structure, 38, 39, 40, 66i, 67i
fluitans, 28, 31, 72, 84i, 85i
section of stem, 30, 42i, 43i
leaf-structure, 38, 39, 40, 59i, 65i
interruptum, 95, 99i, 100i
isachne, 66, 80i, 81i
leaf epidermis, 39, 62i, 63i
section of stem, 27, 35i
javanicum, 1, 5, 86, 1i, 7i, 93i, 94i
epidermis of leaf, 34, 49i, 50i
inflorescence, 3, 13, 3i
leaf sheath, 3, 2i
structure, 33, 48i
ligule, 13i
spikelets, 3, 4, 4i
prostratum, 83, 91i, 92i
punctatum, 73
ramosum, 89, 95i, 96i
section of stem, 25, 31i, 32i
repens, 99, 102i, 103i
extravaginal shoots, 9, 10i
structure of leaf margins, 35, 53i
structure of leaf, 35, 39, 52i
stagninum, 28, 77, 88i
section of stem, 28, 41i
tenellum, 97
trypheron, 96, 101i
Pappophorum, 288
elegans, 290, 215i, 216i
Parenchymatous cells, 20
Paspalum, 15, 45, 47
scrobiculatum, 49, 69i, 70i
inflorescence, 13
rachis, 13
Pennisetum, 46, 114
Alopecuros, 6, 116, 113i, 114i
inflorescence, 13
Pennisetum cenchroides, 6, 118, 115i, 116i
rachis, 13
section of root, 31, 44i
root, 32
section of stem, 22, 25i, 26i
section of vascular bundle, 19, 20, 22i, 23i
typhoideum, 6
Pericycle, 32, 47i
Perotis, 123, 135
latifolia, 137, 124i, 125i
Phloem, 19, 20
Pileole, 18
Piliferous layer, 31, 44i
Piper. _Piper_
Pistil, 16
Pitted vessels, 20
Plumule, 18
Poaceae, 43, 220
Polytoca, 45, 143
barbata, 144, 127i
unisexual spikelets, 15
Pommereulla, 284
Cornucopiae, 286, 213i, 214i
Primary axis, 18
Prophyllum, 10, 12i
Protandry, 16
Protogyny, 16
R
Raceme, 13
Rachilla, 14, 16
Rachis, 3, 13
Radicle, 18
Rhizome, 9
Root-hairs, 31, 44i
Root-system, 6
Rottboellia, 14, 139, 173
exaltata, 175, 145i
section of stem, 20, 21, 24i
Myurus, 174, 144i
Rottboellieae, 139
S
Sacchareae, 138
Saccharum, 138, 148
spontaneum, 149, 129i
Scales, 10
Sclerenchyma, 21
Scutellum, 18
Setaria, 45, 46, 109
glauca, 110, 109i
inflorescence, 13
section of stem, 23, 24, 29i, 30i
intermedia, 111, 110i
verticillata, 113, 111i, 112i
Sheath of leaf, 10
Shoot-system, 7
Spiciform panicle, 13
raceme, 13
Spike, 13
Spikelet, 3, 13, 14
Spinifex, 45, 46, 103
squarrosus, 104, 105i, 106i
leaf structure, 38, 60i, 61i
unisexual spikelets, 15
Sporobolus, 230
commutatus, 238, 183i, 184i
coromandelianus, 235, 181i, 182i
panicle, 13, 14
diander, 231, 178i
scabrifolius, 241, 185i, 186i
tremulus, 233, 179i, 180i
Stamens, 15
Stele, 32
Stellate cells, 28, 31
Structure of leaf, 32
of root, 31
Sympodia, 9
T
Trachys, 123, 128
mucronata, 129, 121i
Tragus, 123, 131
racemosus, 5, 133, 122i, 123i
V
Vascular bundle, 19
closed, 19
open, 19
Vascular bundle, longitudinal section, 20, 23i
transverse section, 19, 22i
Vetiveria zizanioides, 193, 154i
X
Xylem, 19, 20
Z
Zea Mays, 6
Zoysieae, 43, 123
Transcriber's Notes:
Fig. 46.--Transverse section of the cortica portion
Changed cortica to cortical.
Fig. 48. ...
Ep. c. An ordinary epidermal cell; st. stomata; sc. sclerenchyma;
ph. phloen;
Changed phloen to phloem.
Fig. 51.--A portion of the transverse section
of the leaf of Eriochloa polystachy
Changed polystachy to polystachya.
Page 138:
in Imperata or they may be different as in Isachaemum and
Changed to Ischaemum to match other occurrences.
Page 193: (_Vetiveria zizanioides._)
Changed Veteveria to Vetiveria to match other occurrences.
Page 211:
spikelets are smaller than the involucrant spikelets, linear-oblong,
'involucrant' may be equivalent to 'involucral'. Unchanged.
Page 288:
41. Pappophorum, _Nees._
Changed from Pap pophorum to Pappophorum to match other occurrences.
Page 301:
with a minute mucro, sub-chartaceous, puncticulate, strongly
Changed puncticulate to punctulate.
Index: Changed asterisks to small i's to denote illustration numbers.