Chapter VIII: Tribe Iv--Andropogoneæ (2)

These are erect slender perennial grasses with narrow leaves. The spikes are solitary and slender, with a fragile, articulated rachis; the joints are terete, ribbed, all but a few upper with two equal and similar sessile spikelets, sunk in sub-opposite oblong cavities, separated by a hyaline septum, and with sometimes a minute glume representing a third spikelet (the pedicelled) on the upper margin of the joint. The sessile spikelets are one-flowered, nearly as long as the internode. There are four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume closing the mouth of the cavity in the joint is obliquely oblong, obtuse, smooth with narrowly incurved margins. The second and the third glumes are as long as the first, obtuse and hyaline. The third glume is empty, paleate or not. The fourth glume is rather small, oblong, obtuse, bisexual and palea shorter than the glume. The lodicules are not present. The stamens are three. Ovary is very small with stigmas not exserted. The grain is narrowly oblong compressed. The pedicelled spikelets are confined to the upper 1-flowered joints of the spike and their pedicels are confluent with the walls of the joints and their margins are marked by two ribs. The first glume is very minute and the other glumes are absent.

=Mnesithea lævis, _Kunth._=

This is an erect slender perennial grass with smooth simple or branched stems varying in height from 2 to 4 feet.

The _leaf-sheath_ is terete, tight, glabrous. The _ligule_ is a short toothed membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is flat, linear from a narrow base, glabrous or base hairy; apices of upper leaves acuminate, and those of the lower obtuse, with finely serrate margins and a midrib prominent below, 6 to 12 inches long and 1/10 to 1/6 inch wide.

_Racemes_ are short, exserted from the uppermost sheath, erect, 4 to 8 inches long; joints are 1/5 inch long, contracted in the middle, with two equal and similar spikelets, sunk in the opposite oblong cavities separated by a thin hyaline septum and sometimes with a minute glume of the third spikelet on the upper margin of the joint.

1 and 2. Portions of a spike; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8. ovary; 9 and 10. a part of the spike at the terminal portion.]

The _sessile spikelets_ are 1-flowered, as long as the joint and varying in length from 1/7 to 1/5 inch and have four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is obliquely oblong, coriaceous, smooth, obtuse, margins narrowly incurved, truncate and pitted at the base, 5- to 7-nerved. The _second glume_ is as long as the first hyaline, oblong and obtuse. The _third glume_ is like the second but thinner and slightly broader, paleate or not, empty. The _fourth glume_ is rather smaller than the third, oblong, obtuse, bisexual and paleate; the _palea_ is shorter than the glume. _Lodicules_ are not present.

This grass is usually found in dry fields all over the presidency but it is nowhere abundant.

_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.

27. Manisuris, _Sw._

These are erect leafy much branched annual grasses. Leaves are amplexicaul and cordate at the base. The inflorescence consists of small, terete, axillary and terminal spikes with peduncles often confluent in a leafy spiciform panicle; the rachis is fragile with short broad joints, deeply excavate opposite the sessile spikelets and the tips with two pits. Spikelets are in dissimilar pairs, one globose, sessile and bisexual and the other ovate, pedicelled, neuter with the pedicels adnate to, or closely appressed to the joint of the rachis. The sessile spikelet has four glumes. The first glume is globose, hard, coarsely pitted, with an oblong ventral opening opposite the cavity in the joint of the rachis. The second glume is chartaceous, minute, oblong, 1-nerved immersed in the cavity of the first glume and closing the opening. The third and the fourth glumes are hyaline and minute. The lodicules are broadly cuneate. Anthers are minute. The styles are free and stigmas are short exserted from the opening in the first glume. Grain is sub-globose.

=Manisuris granularis, _L.f._=

This is a freely branching annual with stems leafy to the top and varying in length from 1 to 2-1/2 feet.

The _leaf-sheath_ is inflated, covered with scattered tubercle-based hairs. The _ligule_ is a short membrane with ciliate margin. _Nodes_ are with long hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear, cordate and amplexicaul at base, acute, flat, flaccid, with scattered tubercle-based hairs on both the surfaces, 4 to 10 inches by 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

The _spikes_ are solitary, axillary and terminal and 1/4 to 1 inch, the peduncles of the spikes are often confluent in a leafy spathiform panicle; the rachis is fragile with short joints deeply excavate on one side.

1 and 2. The front and back view of a bit of a spike; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. ovary anthers and lodicules; 8, 9, 10 and 12. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 11 and 13. palea of the third and fourth glumes.]

The _spikelets_ are 1- to 2-flowered in dissimilar pairs, one globose, sessile and bisexual and the other ovate, pedicelled, neuter; the pedicel is adnate to the joint of the rachis.

The _sessile spikelet_ has four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is hard, globose, foveolate, with an oblong opening, faintly nerved. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, immersed in the cavity of the joint, and filling the opening. The _third glume_ is small hyaline and empty. The _fourth glume_ is hyaline, small and paleate. The grain is sub-globose. _Lodicules_ are broadly cuneate.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ also have four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is ovate, sub-chartaceous, winged on one side with a broad hyaline ciliate wing, 5- to 7-veined. The _second glume_ is cymbiform, compressed laterally, with a dorsal hyaline ciliate wing to the keel, 5- to 7-veined. The _third glume_ is hyaline, membranous, oblong, 2-nerved and paleate or not, and with or without stamens. The _fourth glume_ is similar to the third, but slightly smaller, paleate and with three stamens.

This grass occurs in open loamy soils and in cultivated dry fields.

_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon and also in most of the tropical countries.

28. Andropogon, _L._

The grasses of this genus are either perennial or annual and vary very much in habit. The inflorescence consists of solitary, binate, digitate, or panicled racemes. The rachis is usually jointed and fragile. Spikelets are binate, a sessile female or bisexual and a pedicelled male or neuter. The sessile spikelet is 1-flowered and has usually four glumes. The first glume is coriaceous or chartaceous, dorsally compressed, with incurved margins, usually 2-keeled. The second glume is as long as the first, thinner, with a median keel, laterally compressed, awned or not. The third glume is hyaline, empty, nerveless and without a palea. The fourth glume is hyaline, narrow or broad, 2-fid and awned, or reduced to an awn more or less dilated at the base, paleate or not. There are two lodicules and three stamens. Stigmas are feathery. Grain is free. The pedicelled spikelets are usually smaller than the sessile and have three or four glumes and are awnless.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. Sessile spikelets all similar.

B. Racemes of many spikelets.

C. Peduncle of racemes enclosed in
spathiform leaf-sheaths.

D. Joints of rachis and pedicels of upper spikelets slender and tips obliquely truncate.

Racemes solitary, pedicelled spikelets
similar to the sessile, glume
1 of sessile spikelets pitted. 1. A. foveolatus.

DD. Joints of rachis and pedicels of upper spikelets clavate or trumpet-shaped and tips cupular with toothed margins.

Racemes binate, pedicelled spikelets
differing from the sessile, glume I
of the sessile spikelets deeply
channelled. 2. A. pumilus

CC. Peduncle of racemes not enclosed in
spathiform leaf-sheath.

Racemes many, fascicled or panicled,
glume I of sessile spikelets
glabrous and pitted. 3. A. pertusus.

Racemes many and whorled in the
panicle; glume I of sessile spikelets
muricate on the margins. 4. A. squarrosus.

BB. Racemes of 3 spikelets on the capillary
whorled branches of an erect panicle.

Pedicels of upper spikelets half as long
as the sessile spikelets or longer.

Leaves broad.

Leaf-sheaths covered densely with
bristly hairs. 5. A. asper.

Leaf-sheaths covered with soft hairs. 6. A. Wightianus

Pedicels of upper spikelets not half as
long as the sessile spikelet.

Leaves glabrous and narrow 7. A. monticola.

AA. The lowest one or more sessile spikelets in
all racemes, or at least in one or two, differing
from all those above.

Racemes digitate, rarely solitary, spikelets
all alike in form but differing in sex.

Pedicel 1/3 as long as the sessile
spikelets; nodes usually glabrous;
ligule usually short and membranous. 8. A. caricosus.

Pedicel 1/2 as long as the sessile
spikelets; nodes bearded; ligule
large and membranous. 9. A. annulatus.

Racemes solitary; lower sessile spikelets very
unlike the pedicelled or upper spikelets which
are cylindric.

Margin of glume 1 of the pedicelled
spikelet unequally winged; ligule
is a broad truncate membrane. 10. A. contortus.

Racemes two, both sessile, or one sessile and
the other pedicelled on a peduncle which is
more or less sheathed by a proper spathe,
divaricate or deflexed.

Leaf base broad and cordate 11. A. Schoenanthus.

_N.B._--This genus is now split into several separate genera,
each subgenus being raised to the rank of a genus. But in this
book the nomenclature adopted in Hooker's Flora of British
India is followed.

=Andropogon foveolatus, _Del._=

The stems are slender at first, slightly decumbent at the base and then erect, covered at base with silkily villous sheaths, branches freely above before flowering, the lower portion of stems alone being leafy.

The _leaf-sheath_ is somewhat scaberulous, partly green and partly purplish, always shorter than the internode. The _ligule_ is short, truncate, hyaline and ciliate. _Nodes_ are tumid and purplish with a ring of hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear, narrow, sometimes even filiform, acuminate slightly cordate at the base, scabrid throughout with a few scattered long bulbous-based hairs near the base to a distance of less than 1/2 inch about it and varies from 2 to 4 inches in length.

1 and 2. Sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. lodicules, anthers and ovary; 8, 9 and 10. the two glumes and the palea of the pedicelled spikelet.]

The _spikes_ are solitary, 1 to 1-3/4 inch long exserted far above the small spathiform leaf-sheaths, peduncles are capillary and scaberulous, pedicels and joints are somewhat flattened, and have along both the narrow margins long, white, ascending hairs; callus is short with a ring of short white hairs.

There are two kinds of _spikelets,_ sessile and pedicelled, and both are oblong-lanceolate and equal. The _sessile spikelet_ consists of _four_ _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, flat and smooth, keels scabrid with usually a deep dorsal pit, 4-nerved. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, acute, as long as the first, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is small, membranous, linear-lanceolate, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is the dilated base of the awn, awn is about 3/4 inch twisted to half its length, scabrid, the lower twisted part dark and the upper pale. There are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_. _Ovary_ has two feathery _stigmas_. The _pedicelled spikelets_ have only two glumes and contain three stamens. The _first glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, 5-nerved, pitted above the middle, with recurved margins and scabrid keels and nerves. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, membranous, hairy at the top, 3-nerved with margins infolded; _palea_ is oblanceolate, thinly membranous, nerveless and ciliated at the top; there are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_.

This is a fairly common grass occurring all over the Presidency much liked by cattle and yields plenty of foliage if properly looked after. It grows on all kinds of soils, even laterite.

_Distribution._--Throughout India.

=Andropogon pumilus, _Roxb._=

It is a tufted annual with numerous radiating branches, growing on all directions, bent below and erect above; they vary in length from 6 inches to 18 inches, but sometimes when growing under favourable conditions attain the length of 2-1/2 feet. The stem is slender, green, or pale reddish in the exposed portions and pale in parts covered by sheaths slightly flattened, smooth.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, compressed, distinctly keeled. The _ligule_ is a short, truncate, white, glabrous membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear, finely acuminate, glabrous, but sometimes somewhat scabrid along the nerves and with scattered long delicate hairs above especially when young, varying in length from 1 to 7 inches and 1/10 to 1/8 inch in breadth.

The _inflorescence_ consists of paired spikes with very slender peduncles arising from flattened, glabrous, acuminate spathes, varying in length from 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches. The _spikes_ are spreading and one of them always slightly longer than the other, reddish or pale green, 1/2 to 1 inch long; the _rachis_ consists of five to eight flat joints broadened at the top and ending in a cup, densely ciliate on both the margins, but hairs on one margin are shorter than those on the other. Each joint bears a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet.

1. A portion of the spike to show the arrangement of the spikelets; 1. the first glume of the sessile spikelet; 2. second glume of the sessile spikelet; 3 and 4. third and fourth glumes of the sessile spikelet; 5. anthers, lodicules and the ovary; A, B and C. the three glumes of the pedicelled spikelets.]

The _sessile spikelet_ is about 3/16 inch with an awn 7/16 inch long. There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is narrow, linear, membranous, grooved, finely bicuspidate at the apex, with incurved margins and two nerves ending in tubercles below. The _second glume_ is a little longer than the first, narrow, lanceolate, boat-shaped, thinly coriaceous with membranous margins, 1-nerved and shortly awned. The _third glume_ is about 2/3 of the second glume in length, and shorter than the first glume, linear-lanceolate, hyaline, nerveless or sometimes very obscurely 2-nerved. The _fourth glume_ is narrow linear, hyaline with two very fine lobes at the apex with an awn between, 7/16 inch long. _Palea_ is hyaline and very small. _Stamens_ are three, _ovary_ with two long reddish feathery _stigmas_. _Lodicules_ small and cuneate. Grain is long and narrow.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ have only three glumes, and are slightly shorter than the sessile ones, pedicel is similar to the joint. The _first glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, thinly coriaceous, distinctly many-nerved, acuminate, margins infolded and membranous. The _second glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous and 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is short, oblong-lanceolate, nerveless or faintly 2-nerved. There are three stamens.

This grass is variable in its size. In dry soils such as laterite soils, it is a very small plant not exceeding 9 or 10 inches across its spread. But in good soil and under favourable conditions the plant measures across 5 or 6 feet. Cattle eat the grass before it flowers and do not relish it so much when in flower.

A common grass flourishing all over the Presidency.

_Distribution._--Occurs in drier parts throughout India.

=Andropogon pertusus, _Willd._=

This grass is perennial. Stems are tufted, very slender, widely creeping on all sides, purplish, but the flowering branches are erect or ascending from a geniculate base, leafy at base, the nodes of the creeping branches rooting and bearing tufts of branches which finally become independent plants at each node, the creeping branches vary in length from 1 to 3 feet and the erect ones from 10 to 18 inches or more.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are terete or somewhat compressed, glabrous, sometimes ciliated near the node and shorter than the internode. The _ligule_ is a truncate membrane, slightly ciliate or not. _Nodes_ are bearded.

The _leaf-blades_ in the prostrate branches are crowded, short linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, soft, shortly hairy along the nerves, sparsely ciliate near the rounded base, varying in length from 1 to 2 inches and in breadth 1/8 to 1/4 inch; but on the flowering branches the leaves are longer, sometimes as long as twelve inches with bigger sheaths.

1. A portion of a spike; 2. a pair of spikelets; a. sessile and b. pedicelled; a-1. first glume; a-2. second glume; a-3. third glume; a-4. fourth glume and awn; a-5. ovary and stamens; a-6. grain; b-1. first glume of pedicelled spikelet front and back; b-2. second glume front and back; b-3. third glume.]

The _inflorescence_ consists of three to nine, slender, flexuous, erect, purplish spikes, 1 to 2 inches long, alternately arranged on a thin, long, slender, smooth peduncle of about six inches; _rachis_ is slender and the joints and pedicels are densely silky with long hairs.

The _spikelets_ are in pairs, one sessile and one-pedicelled, both are equal, purplish or pale. The _sessile spikelet_ consists of four glumes and contains a complete flower and the callus is short and bearded with long hairs. The _first glume_ is coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, acute, truncate or emarginate, slightly hairy, or glabrous with a deep pit above the middle (sometimes with two or three pits also) 7- to 9-nerved with a few long hairs below the middle and with margins infolded and shortly ciliate. The _second glume_ is lanceolate-acuminate and finely pointed at the tip and the point projecting slightly beyond the first glume, 3-nerved or 3- to 5-nerved, membranous, slightly hairy or glabrous, obscurely keeled. The _third glume_ is thin, membranous, shorter than the second glume, linear-oblong, subobtuse or acute at the tip and nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is the base of the awn and the _awn_ is not twisted, bent at about the middle, 1/2 to 2/3 inch long; there is no palea. _Anthers_ are three and yellow; _stigmas_ purple. The grain is oblong-obovate, slightly transparent.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are slightly narrower than the sessile, generally not pitted (though pitted in some plants), and not awned, and each one consists of three glumes only; the pedicel is more than half as long as the sessile spikelets. The _first glume_ is slightly hairy, oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, ciliate at the margins, 7- to 9-, or 13-nerved, generally without pits, but occasionally with one, two or three pits; the keels are ciliolate throughout the length. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, with incurved margins, 5-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, glabrous and thinly ciliate at the tip or not with or without stamens.

This is an excellent fodder grass and it grows quickly and stands cutting very well. Cattle eat this grass very well.

_Distribution._--This grass is found all over India in the plains or lower elevations of hills.

=Andropogon squarrosus, _L.f._=

(_Vetiveria zizanioides._)

This is a densely tufted perennial grass with branching root-stocks and spongy aromatic roots.

The stems are leafy, with equitant, hard, leaf-sheaths at the base, smooth and polished, solid, 2 to 3-1/2 feet high.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, coriaceous, glabrous, keeled and compressed. The _ligule_ is a very short membrane.

_Leaf-blades_ are narrowly linear, erect, strongly keeled and flat, acuminate, glabrous both above and below, very much narrower than the sheath at the base, 1 to 2 feet by 1/3 to 3/4 inch.

The _panicle_ is conical, erect with branches, fascicled, varying in length from 4 to 12 inches. The _spikes_ consist of both sessile and pedicelled spikelets, that are either grey, green, or purplish.

1. A portion of a branch; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 9, 10, 11 and 12. glumes of the pedicelled spikelet; 13. palea of the fourth glume.]

The _sessile spikelets_ are about 1/6 inch long, lanceolate and with a shortly bearded callus. The _first glume_ is ovate-oblong, thickly coriaceous, obscurely 2- to 4-nerved (occasionally 5- to 7-nerved), acute, dorsally flat, with incurved margins and with two rows of tubercle-based minute prickles or mere excrescences at the sides. The _second glume_ is as long as the first, oblong, coriaceous, keeled, with hyaline and ciliolate margins, 1-nerved (sometimes 3-nerved, marginal faint), and with minute prickles on the keel. The _third glume_ is broadly oblong, hyaline, nerveless or rarely with two obscure veins ciliolate at the margins and acute or acuminate. The _fourth glume_ is shorter than the third, linear-oblong, mucronate or very shortly awned at the apex, paleate; _palea_ about two-thirds the length of the glume, lanceolate. _Lodicules_ are two, quadrate and conspicuous though small. _Styles_ and _stigmas_ short. _Stamens_ are three with yellow anthers. _Stigmas_ are purple.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are similar to the sessile ones, but are slightly smaller and the prickles are less prominent. The _fourth glume_ has no mucro or awn and has three stamens.

This grass is fairly abundant in moist situations, in the margins of tanks and in tankbeds in the Coromandel districts, but in other inland districts it is not so common. In some places it seems to be cultivated. This is the _khus-khus_ grass.

_Distribution._--Throughout the plains and lower hills of India, Burma and Ceylon, also said to occur in Java and Tropical Africa.

=Andropogon asper, _Heyne._=

(_Chrysopogon asper_, Heyne.)

This is a tufted perennial grass. Stems are stout below with distichous leaves and very slender above, 2 to 3-1/2 feet long.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are distichous and towards the base of the stem are 1/2 inch broad, compressed, keeled and with scattered tubercle-based hairs. The _ligule_ is a short membrane fringed with close set hairs.

Leafy shoot, a bit of the stem with leaf-sheaths and a bit of the leaf.]

The _leaf-blades_ are broad, distinctly linear, acute or acuminate, coriaceous, glabrous or softly hairy on both the surfaces, with a slender midrib which bears short stiff tubercle-based hairs all along, and margins with similar hairs, but a few leaves towards the base are longer, and varying in length from 12 to 18 inches and in breadth from 1/2 to 3/4 inch.

The _panicle_ is somewhat narrow, 7 to 8 inches long, branches are very slender, whorled, usually with only one spike consisting of a sessile and two pedicelled spikelets.

The _sessile spikelets_ are 1/4 inch long, laterally compressed, with a long callus villous all round, and bisexual. The _first glume_ is coriaceous, linear-oblong, strongly compressed above and with a few stiff short bristles beneath the tip. The _second glume_ is linear, oblong, coriaceous, with an awn as long as itself or shorter, keeled and with short stiff bristles on the keel and on the sides above the middle. The _third glume_ is hyaline, narrow, obtuse, shorter than the second, 2-nerved, ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is the linear, hyaline, 3-nerved base of the awn; the _awn_ is 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches and bent at about the middle.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are about 1/3 inch, narrowly lanceolate, male or neuter and with short rusty hairs on both the margins of the pedicel and a semi-circular tip. The _first glume_ is thin, 2-toothed or not at the tip, awned, _awn_ being as long as itself or longer, 7-nerved, ciliate at the sides from base to tip; the nerves are either equidistant or the lateral nerves nearer the margin. The _second glume_ is lanceolate-acuminate, not awned, 3-nerved, margins hyaline, and ciliolate. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved, ciliolate. The _fourth glume_ is linear or linear-lanceolate, hyaline, nerveless or 1-nerved.

1. Spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. the ovary, lodicules and stamens; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 11. callus of the spike.]

This grass grows abundantly on the sides of the Kambakkam Drug, Chingleput district, and in Penchalkonda, Nellore district, and seems to be an endemic species. It is usually confined to the hill sides and not found in the plains. This grass is very closely allied to _Andropogon Wightianus_ and it differs from it only in the general habit of the plant and in having bristles on the leaf-sheaths. On the whole this is a coarser and larger plant than _A. Wightianus_.

_Distribution._--Kambakkam Drug in the Chingleput district and Penchalkonda in Nellore district.

=Andropogon Wightianus, _Steud._=

(_Chrysopogon Wightianus_, Nees.)

This is a perennial. Stems are erect or ascending from a creeping root-stock, varying in height from 2 to 3 feet.

The _leaf-sheath_ is flattened, softly hairy or glabrous, often ciliated near the mouth. The _ligule_ is a fringe of very short hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is narrowly or rarely broadly linear, obtuse or acute and abruptly mucronate, or narrowly drawn into a point glabrous or pubescent, margins shortly ciliate.

The _panicle_ is narrow, 3 to 6 inches long, peduncle smooth below but thinly pubescent above, lower branches long, few in a whorl; rachis is very slender, angular, glabrous or hairy. The _spikes_ are solitary and each one consists of one sessile and two pedicelled spikelets. The callus is long and densely bearded with brown hairs.

1. A spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet.]

_Sessile spikelets_ are bisexual, sub-cylindric about 1/4 inch long. There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, laterally compressed, obscurely 4-nerved, glabrous below, hispid near the apex, minutely 2-toothed or not at the apex, not awned or rarely with a short awn. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, distinctly awned, the _awn_ being as long as the glume or longer, hispid above and at the sides also. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is narrow with hyaline margins, with an _awn_ 2 to 3 inches long; _awn_ is hispid below, twisted and geniculate at and less hairy above the middle. Stamens are three. Styles are two and feathery. Lodicules are very small.

_Pedicelled spikelets_ are male or neuter, flattened, hairy, rarely glabrous. The pedicels are half as long or slightly longer than the sessile spikelet, truncate or semi-circular at the top, and with brown villous hairs along the margin. There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is about 3/8 inch, ciliate, along the inflexed margin, 7-nerved, awned; _awn_ equal to or longer than the glume. The _second glume_ is as long as the first, shortly awned or acuminate, 3-nerved, ciliate. The _third glume_ is hyaline, oblong, 2-nerved, sparsely ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is narrow, ciliate, nerveless or rarely 1-nerved, erose or bifid at the top. _Anthers_ three or more.

This grass grows on the plains as well as on the hills. It is very closely allied to _Andropogon asper, Heyne_, and it is very difficult to distinguish them. _Andropogon Wightianus_ is somewhat smaller compared with _Andropogon asper_, and the tubercle-based bristles on the leaf-sheaths, so characteristic of _A. asper_, is absent.

_Distribution._--Madras, Chingleput district, Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris.

=Andropogon monticola, _Schult._=

(_Chrysopogon monticola._)

This is a perennial grass.

The stems are usually slender, densely tufted, erect, simple, or branched, leafy especially at the base, varying in height from 1 to 3 feet.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are sparsely hairy or glabrous, the lower somewhat compressed and the upper terete. The _ligule_ is a short, ciliated membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, linear, acute, rigid, flat, glaucous, smooth or scaberulous, with margins scabrid and ciliated with tubercle-based hairs especially towards the base, and varying in length from 2 to 15 inches.

The _inflorescence_ is an open panicle, ovate or oblong, varying in length from 2 to 5 inches; the _rachis_ is slender, smooth or scaberulous, the branches are capillary, whorled and spreading, tip oblique, bearded and bearing a single sessile and two pedicellate spikelets.

1. Sessile and pedicellate spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. anthers, ovary and lodicules; A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelet; A-5. lodicules of the pedicelled spikelet.]

The _sessile spikelets_ are bisexual, about 1/4 inch or less, with a long callus bearded on one side with long rusty hairs. There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, linear, complicate, 2-toothed at the tip and with short bristles towards the apex, 4-veined. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate, much broader than the first, ciliate with long rufous bristles on the keel, shortly toothed at the apex with an _awn_ about 1/3 of an inch and with broadly hyaline margins. The _third glume_ is hyaline, narrow-oblong, ciliate and obtuse. The _fourth glume_ is narrow, oblong, hyaline with an _awn_ nearly an inch long. There are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_. The _stigmas_ are long and feathery.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are as long as the sessile and the pedicels are flattened and with long rufous hairs on both the margins. There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, acute and awned between two teeth, 7-nerved and scaberulous. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, acuminate, with thinly ciliate hyaline margins, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is shorter than the second, narrow, hyaline, ciliate at the margins, 2-nerved. The _fourth glume_ also is small, hyaline, ciliate, and 1-nerved. There are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_.

This grass is found growing all over the Presidency on the plains and even on low hills. It grows into a tall plant in rich soils and remains stunted in poor, dry and rocky soils. Cattle eat this grass.

_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon and in Africa.

=Andropogon caricosus, _L._=

This is a perennial grass more or less tufted in habit and closely allied to _Andropogon annulatus_, Forsk.

Stems are erect or decumbent below or ascending from a creeping base, rooting at the nodes, smooth, glabrous and much branched, varying in height, from 1 to 2 feet; branches are short, slender and sometimes even capillary, with _nodes_ bearded or not in branches ending in solitary spikes, and completely glabrous when they end in binate spikes.

_The leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous, rather compressed, striate, shorter than the internodes. _Ligule_ is membranous, short, very finely ciliolate or not.

_The leaf-blade_ is linear, finely acuminate, sparsely hairy, sometimes with tubercle-based hairs, becoming glabrous when old with scaberulous margins 2 to 8 inches by 1/10 to 1/6 inch, base rounded mostly with a few long hairs.

1 and 2. Front and back view of a bit of spike; 3. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. awn representing the fourth glume; 8. stamens, lodicules and the ovary; 9. the first glume of the pedicelled spikelet.]

_The spikes_ are either binate or solitary varying in length from 1 to 2 inches, joints and pedicels about 1/3 as long as the sessile spikelets, slightly angular or flat, ciliate along one side with white hairs; peduncle is slender, pale or purple, pubescent or glabrous just below the spike.

_The spikelets_ are about 1/8 inch, imbricate, a sessile and a stalked one from the top of each joint, greenish or purple. The _sessile spikelet_ contains a bisexual flower and consists of four glumes. The callus is short, and shortly hairy below. The _first glume_ is somewhat chartaceous, obovate-oblong, obtuse or truncate, 7- to 11-nerved, margin slightly folded, keel shortly rigidly ciliate towards the apex, and thinly ciliate below, dorsal surfaces sparsely hairy below the middle. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, equal to or slightly longer than the first glume but narrower, 3-nerved, margin infolded, thinly shortly ciliate, dorsally glabrous, shining. The _third glume_ is hyaline, ovate-oblong, acute, nerveless, margins sparsely ciliate or not. The _fourth glume_ is the base of the awn, 3/4 to 1 inch, scaberulous. _Stamens_ are three with yellow or purple tinged anthers, _ovary_ oblong with two feathery _stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are two, cuneate.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are either male or neuter and consist of four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, obovate-oblong, obtuse, many-nerved (thirteen or more), thinly ciliate with long hairs and with a few rigid short hairs towards the apex; margins are slightly infolded, dorsally sparsely hairy without. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved (occasionally 4-nerved), margins are thinly ciliate and infolded. The _third glume_ is hyaline, nerveless and ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is hyaline, nerveless, linear and oblong, glabrous, small, the apex is narrowed and deeply bifid. There are three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_.

This is a common grass flourishing on the bunds of paddy fields and in sheltered places where there is sufficient moisture in the soil. But this is less common than _A. annulatus_, Forsk. In black cotton soil at Bantanahal in Bellary district it grows to a height of 4 or 5 feet.

_Distribution._--Plains and low hills throughout India and Ceylon.

1. Full plant; 2. base of the leaf and ligule.]

=Andropogon annulatus, _Forsk._=

This is a densely tufted perennial grass.

The main stem is underground, rhizomiferous, and covered with scale leaves; branches are many arising in tufts, leafy, procumbent at base and afterwards geniculately ascending and ending in inflorescence, occasionally rooting at the nodes and varying in length from 2 to 3 feet. The internodes vary from 1-1/2 to 4 inches, pale or purplish, slightly flattened, smooth and glabrous.

The _leaf-sheath_ is terete, glabrous, shining, green or purplish, closed, with margins where separate ciliated and profusely so at the tip especially the outer or both. The _ligule_ is membranous truncate, glabrous, about 1/16 inch in height. _Nodes_ are purple and softly villous.

1. Front and back views of a portion of the spike; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. the ovary, stamens and lodicules; 8, 9 and 10. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelet.]

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, acuminate, scabrid, sparsely hairy, becoming glabrous except at the base and with tubercle-based hairs on the upper surface.

_The spikes_ vary in number from two to nine, erect or slightly spreading, subdigitately fascicled, pale when young and pinkish or brown when old, varying in length from 1 to 2-1/2 inches. The stalk of the whole inflorescence is long, slender, smooth and glabrous. The _peduncle_ of the spikes is from 1/8 to 1/6 of an inch long, thin, slender, glabrous with swollen bases and with a ring of hairs at the node. _Joints_ of the _rachis_ and the _pedicels_ are slightly flattened, ciliated along the narrow edges; the _pedicels_ of the stalked spikelets are half as long as the sessile spikelets. The spikelets are one sessile and one pedicelled and imbricating on the rachis.

The _sessile spikelet_ is as long as the stalked or a little less, with a thick callus, shortly bearded at the base or sometimes glabrous and consists of four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is elliptic-oblong or oblong, obtuse or truncate, irregularly 2- or 3-toothed, 5- to 9-nerved, sparsely villous with long hairs and margins slightly infolded. The _second glume_ is smaller than the first glume, acute, membranous, 3-nerved and keeled, the margins are ciliate and infolded. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear, acute, or obtuse, nerveless sparsely hairy at the tip, very much shorter than the second glume. The _fourth glume_ is an _awn_ with a linear hyaline base, erect, about an inch long. _Stamens_ are three, _ovary_ is oblong with two feathery, dark purple _stigmas_. _Lodicules_ are two, cuneate.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are male and consist of only three glumes. The _first glume_ is elliptic, oblong, irregularly obtuse, about 11-nerved, margins slightly infolded with long pilose hairs throughout, more along the margin. The _second glume_ is a little smaller, 3-nerved, sparsely hairy only along the marginal nerves, folded inwards, and slightly keeled. The _third glume_ is shorter than the second, hyaline, nerveless, narrow-lanceolate, acute; _stamens_ are three, with green anthers, purple-dotted. _Lodicules_ are two, broad and cuneate.

This grass is found flourishing all over India and grows in cultivated fields and gardens and likes sheltered places. This yields a considerable amount of fodder and stands cutting well.

_Distribution._ Throughout India in the hills and the plains.

=Andropogon contortus, _L._=

(_Heteropogon contortus_, Beauv.)

This is a tufted perennial.

The stems are erect or slightly decumbent below, slender, rather compressed towards the base, leafy at the base, simple or branched, densely tufted and varying in length from 1 to 3 or 4 feet.

1. Lower pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 2. upper pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of pedicelled spikelets; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 11. ovary.]

The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth or sparsely hairy, compressed and shortly auricled or not at the mouth. The _ligule_ is short, truncate and ciliolate.

The _leaf-blades_ are linear, acute or abruptly acuminate, flat, rigid, sparingly ciliate above, with tubercle-based hairs towards the base, scaberulous throughout, and 2 to 12 inches long or more, 1/10 to 1/5 inch broad.

The _inflorescence_ consists of a solitary spike with closely imbricating spikelets.

The _spikelets_ are all on one side, and the lower two to six pairs of pedicelled and sessile spikelets are all males. The _sessile spikelets_ are all female and awned, except the few lower which are male and awnless, 1/4 inch long. The _callus_ is long, acute, bearded with reddish-brown hairs. There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is narrow, linear-oblong, truncate or rounded, somewhat brown, many-nerved, hispid, with incurved margins and membranous tip. The _second glume_ is linear, obtuse, coriaceous, dark-brown, hispidulous, 3-nerved with incurved margins. The _third glume_ is oblong, hyaline, thin, nerveless, short and truncate. The _fourth glume_ is reduced to an awn, 3 inches or more in length. The _ovary_ is linear with two long _stigmas_.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are somewhat longer than the sessile 1/3 to 1/2 inch, with very short pedicels. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, obliquely twisted, hispid at the back with long bulbous-based hairs, margins more or less unequally winged. The _second glume_ is oblong lanceolate, acuminate, 5-nerved, thinly ciliate with hyaline margins. The _third glume_ is oblong, hyaline, 1-nerved and ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is obovate-oblong or oblong, hyaline, ciliate, nerveless. There are three _stamens_.

This grass though coarse forms very good hay if cut before it flowers. The only objection against this grass is the presence of the troublesome awns which get twisted together like the strands of a rope. This is the _spear grass_ of the Anglo-Indians. It grows all over the Presidency and is a troublesome weed when in flower.

_Distribution._--All over the Presidency and India. Common in all tropical countries.

=Andropogon Schoenanthus, _L. Var. cæsius._=

(_Cymbopogon cæsius_, Stapf.)

This is a perennial grass with stout or slender, erect stems rising from a woody base, leafy upward, simple or branched.

The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth and glabrous. The _ligule_ is an oblong-ovate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is long, narrow or broad, narrowly linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, glaucous especially beneath, thinly coriaceous, glabrous on both the surfaces, base rounded or cordate and amplexicaul, 6 to 10 inches by 1/6 to 1/3 inch.

The _panicle_ is elongate, leafy, narrow, dense or interrupted, compound or decompound, 1 to 2 feet long; bracts are lanceolate, spathiform, finely acuminate, glabrous, varying in length from 1 to 1-1/2 inches, and with hyaline margins; the proper bracts are as long as the spikes or longer.

1. A sessile and two pedicelled spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and fourth glume of the sessile spikelet, respectively; 6. ovary; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelets in order.]

The _spikes_ are unequal, 1/2 to 2/3 inch long, one 3- to 4-jointed and the other 4- to 6-jointed; the joints and pedicels are narrowly clavate, half as long as the sessile spikelets, tips dilated and toothed, margins villously ciliate, with long hairs.

The _spikelets_ are binate, one sessile and the other pedicelled.

The _sessile spikelets_ in the upper part of the spike are bisexual, lanceolate, 1/6 inch long and those in the lower part of the spike are shorter, obtuse, male. The callus is short and bearded. There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is ovate or obovate-oblong, dorsally flat or nearly so, with a deep narrow-longitudinal median furrow usually below the middle and answering to a ridge on the ventral face, obtuse or 2-toothed at the apex, margined above the middle, with a hyaline, narrow, finely denticulate wing, 2-nerved or nerveless. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, cymbiform, acute or acuminate, 3-nerved, margins hyaline, ciliate, as long as the first chartaceous and the keel with a serrulate wing above the middle. The _third glume_ is linear oblong, hyaline, obtuse, ciliate, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is the narrowly winged 2-lobed base of the awn, lobes are lanceolate erect and _palea_ of the fourth glume is minute. _Lodicules_ are cuneate. _Stamens_ are three.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, glabrous and male. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is glabrous or rarely puberulous, margins incurved, obtuse, 9- to 11-nerved. The _second glume_ is ovate, acute, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is oblong or linear-oblong, hyaline, apex rounded, ciliate and faintly 2-nerved.

This grass grows all over the Presidency in open dry situations and is very widely distributed.

_Distribution._--Throughout India--westward to tropical Africa.

29. Anthistiria, _L. f._

(_Themeda_, Forsk.)

These are tall grasses, annual or perennial. Leaves are usually long and narrow. The inflorescence consists of racemes or panicles of fascicled spikes in the axils of spathiform bracts. The spikelets vary in number from six to eleven in a cluster, the four lowest being male or neuter, and forming an involucre with whorled or superposed pairs round either 1-sessile bisexual spikelet with two pedicelled spikelets or two superposed bisexual, the lower with one pedicelled, the upper with two.

The involucral spikelets are male or neuter, the largest, and consist of three glumes. The first glume is oblong, lanceolate, dorsally flattened, many-nerved, margins narrowly incurved and keels narrowly winged. The second glume is membranous, lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved, with ciliate margins. The third glume is hyaline, smaller than the second, 1-nerved or this glume may be absent, stamens have large anthers. The pedicelled spikelets are similar to the involucral in every respect but smaller, male or neuter, but the first glume is not winged on the keels. The bisexual (or female) spikelets are smaller than the involucrant spikelets, linear-oblong, subterete, obtuse with a rigidly bearded callus. There are four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is terete, or dorsally compressed or channelled, coriaceous and at length hardened, margins incurved, dark brown to almost black when old. The second glume is as long as the first, linear, dorsally chartaceous, with broadly incurved membranous margins, 3-nerved. The third glume is very small, hyaline, 1-nerved, epaleate. The fourth glume is the flattened base of the awn, epaleate. The lodicules are two, cuneate. Anthers are rather small. Styles are laterally or terminally exserted. Grain is narrow, obovoid, biconvex, with two grooves on the anterior side and with a long embryo.

=Anthistiria tremula, _Nees_=.

This is an annual or perennial. Stems are stout or slender, erect or ascending from a creeping root-stock, simple or branched, 1 to 4 feet.

The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, compressed. The _ligule_ is a narrow membrane.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, rigid, erect, acuminate with a setaceous tip, nearly smooth, varying in length from 6 to 20 inches and in breadth from 1/6 to 2/3 inch.

The _inflorescence_ is an elongate panicle, 1 to 2 feet long, consisting of rather distant fascicles of spikes and bracts on capillary, flexuous peduncles; the spikes are sub-flabelliform or sub-globose, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches broad, sometimes reduced to a few spikelets and bracts; the outer bracts are longer than the fascicles, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, glabrous or hairy with ordinary or tubercle-based hairs; proper bracts are lanceolate, acute, compressed, glabrous or hairy with membranous margins.

1. Fascicles of three spikes with the outer bracts and proper bracts; 2. a spike without its proper bract; 3. the pedicelled and the bisexual spikelets without the involucral spikelets; 4, the first glume of the involucral spikelet with one wing only; 4a. the first glume of the involucral spikelet with wings to both the keels; 5 and 6. the second and the third glume of the involucral spikelet; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes of the bisexual spikelet; 10, 11, 12 and 13. glumes of the bisexual spikelet; 14. ovary.]

The _involucral spikelets_ are the longest, in contiguous superposed pairs, about 1/2 inch long, and the rachis of the spike is produced beyond these spikelets. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is linear-lanceolate, acute, covered with long, often tubercle-based hairs, many-nerved, margins narrowly incurved, and with narrow wings, on both the keels in one of each of the pairs of spikelets and on one keel only in the other of each of these pairs. The _second glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, acute, margins thin and membranous, inflexed, ciliate above the middle, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is as long as the second, hyaline, very narrowly linear, 1-nerved. _Stamens_ are three and the _lodicules_ are cuneate.

The _pedicelled spikelets_ are usually smaller than the involucral spikelets and similar to them. The _first glume_ is winged on one side in the lowest spikelet and without wings in the others.

The _bisexual or (female) spikelets_ are linear-oblong, obtuse, and the callus with reddish hairs. The _first glume_ is scabrid, deeply channelled at the back, nerveless, narrowly truncate at the tip, and hispid near the apex. The _second glume_ is as long as the first, linear, hyaline, 3-nerved, chartaceous at the back with the sides membranous and incurved. The _third glume_ is small, hyaline, 1-nerved and epaleate. The _fourth glume_ is the narrowed base of the awn which is 1/2 inch long.

This grass is very common in marshes and in wet low-lying places on the hills and occurs also in the plains in Malabar and South Kanara.

_Distribution._--The Deccan Peninsula, from the Konkan and Central Provinces southward, and Ceylon.

30. Iseilema, _Hack._

These grasses are either annual or perennial, with slender freely branching stems. The inflorescence is a panicle consisting of groups of dissimilar spikelets with compressed, boat-shaped spathes on peduncles. Spikelets are of two kinds, sessile and pedicelled. Each peduncle bears 4-pedicelled male or neuter spikelets in a regular whorl forming an involucel around 1 or 2 sessile bisexual spikelets and 2- or 3-pedicelled male spikelets. Involucral spikelets have 3 or 2 glumes, the first two glumes are somewhat similar, the first 3- to 5-nerved and the second 3-nerved, the third glume is one nerved and hyaline. Lodicules are cuneate and retuse. Anthers yellow dotted or tinged violet. Pedicelled spikelets inside the involucral similar to those of the involucral. Sessile spikelets are bisexual or sometimes female, 4-glumed and awned.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Panicle slender, lax; involucral spikelets
1/6 inch; pedicel slender, terete 1. I. laxum.

Panicle crowded, leafy; involucral spikelets
1/6 inch or more, very strongly nerved;
pedicel harder, firmer and flattened 2. I. anthephoroides.

=Iseilema laxum, _Hack._=

It is a tufted perennial grass with a stout, short, creeping root-stock. Stems are slender, branched, ascending, 6 to 24 inches long.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are somewhat loose, glabrous. The _ligule_ is a shortly ciliate membrane.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear, obtuse, glabrous and ciliate near the base, 2 to 6 inches long. The leaf-blades in the upper portions of the branches are smaller.

1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes. 2. a cluster consisting of the involucral spikelets and three inner spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets consisting of one sessile female or bisexual and 2-pedicelled male spikelets; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the involucral spikelet.]

The _inflorescence_ is a narrow long panicle bearing clusters of spikelets with spathes on slender peduncles, the outer spathes are narrow-lanceolate, glabrous or with a few hairs near the margin, 1/4 to 1 inch long; inner spathes are lanceolate, smaller with membranous margins. Each cluster consists of an involucel of 4 pedicelled spikelets forming a true whorl around 2 pedicelled and 1 sessile spikelets or 3 pedicelled and 2 sessile spikelets. The involucral spikelets are male, oblong-lanceolate, acute, with short flattened pedicels, bearded at the base, and have three glumes. The _first glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, acute, 5- to 7-nerved and ciliate. The _second glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, equal or slightly shorter than the first, glabrous, 3-nerved and with infolded margins. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear, short, irregularly toothed at the apex. The inner pedicelled spikelets are similar to the involucral spikelets, but the third glume is very narrow, linear. The sessile spikelets are female, rarely bisexual, narrowly lanceolate, 1/5 inch long, glabrous and have four glumes. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, chartaceous, truncate or 2-fid at the apex, faintly 5-nerved, with a few long hairs or glabrous, and with margins scaberulous towards the tip to about one-third the length of the glume. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, sub-chartaceous, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, nerveless, apex irregularly cut, short; sometimes this glume is wanting. The _fourth glume_ is a very slender awn of about 1/2 inch.

1. Inner spikelets consisting of 2-pedicelled male and two female or bisexual spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelets; 6. ovary; 7, 8 and 9. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the inner pedicelled spikelet.]

This is a widely spread common grass growing in somewhat moist situations. This is the well-known Chengali gaddi of the Telugu districts.

_Distribution._--All over Madras and Bombay presidencies.

=Iseilema anthephoroides, _Hack._=

This is a perennial grass closely resembling _Iseilema laxum_ in its habit, but shorter, stouter and branching more freely. The leaf is similar to that of _I. laxum_ in all its parts.

1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes; 2. the involucral and the inner spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets; 4 and 5. the glumes of the involucral spikelets; 6, 7, 8 and 9. the four glumes, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 10. ovary; 11 and 12. glumes of the inner pedicelled spikelets.]

The _pedicelled spikelets_ of the involucel have firmer harder, shorter and broader pedicels, thickly bearded and consist of two glumes only. The _first glume_ is very strongly 5-nerved, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate; with scaberulous infolded margins, with long cilia. The _second glume_ is lanceolate, thin, 3-nerved, glabrous. The inner _pedicelled spikelets_ are similar to the pedicelled spikelets of the involucel. The _sessile spikelet_ has four glumes. The _first glume_ is elliptic-lanceolate, apex drawn into a long narrow strip ending in two teeth or truncate, sparsely ciliate at the margins about the middle, faintly 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is shorter than the first, lanceolate, drawn out into an acuminate point at the apex, hairy at the back. The _third glume_ is hyaline, short, oblong, apex broad and irregularly toothed, nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is an awn.

This is very common in the Deccan districts and grows on all kinds of soils. This is a good fodder grass.

_Distribution._--Very common in the Ceded districts and Nellore.