Chapter VI: Series I--Panicaceæ (2)

The _inflorescence_ is a diffuse panicle 4 to 14 inches long with filiform, divaricate, scaberulous, angled branches; the main _rachis_ is angular, smooth below and scaberulous above; peduncle is cylindric, striate, 2 to 12 inches long. Branches are irregularly distantly alternate, solitary or rarely two, swollen at base, dividing into slender filiform spreading branchlets; the lower branches from 3 to 7 inches in length and getting shorter upwards. Branchlets are 1/2 to 3 inches, capillary, angular and further dividing.

1 and 2. Front and back view of the spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 6. palea of the third glume; 7 and 8. the fourth glume and its palea; 9. stamens, ovary and lodicules.]

The _spikelets_ are ovate, acuminate, binate (sometimes solitary or three) on a common finely filiform stalk, one long and the other short pedicelled, pale or yellowish green, or purple; pedicels are angular, scabrid or scaberulous, slightly swollen at the top and sometimes with setose hairs also.

There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is green or purple, broadly ovate, acuminate, clasping at the base, about two-thirds of the third glume, membranous, nerves five, the lateral two stout and anastomosing halfway, finely scaberulous especially on the nerves and more so on the central one. The _second glume_ is slightly longer than the third, green or purple, ovate, acuminate, generally 7-nerved and sometimes also with two more indistinct marginal nerves, i.e., 9-nerved, scaberulous on the nerves. The _third glume_ is pale green or yellow, ovate-oblong, acute or subacute, obscurely scaberulous, 9-nerved (two of the nerves in the middle sometimes not running to the base), paleate, empty. _Palea_ is hyaline, smaller than the glume, oblong, obtuse, minutely two-lobed or two-toothed at the apex; margins broadly infolded. The _fourth glume_ is elliptic obtuse, shorter than the third, smooth, shining, coriaceous, dorsally convex, with a prominent short, broad stipe at the base which is persistent with the glume, 5-nerved, sometimes with seven nerves especially when young (two marginal ones being indistinct). _Palea_ is similar to the glume in texture. _Anthers_ are three, linear, orange yellow. _Lodicules_ are two and prominent though small. _Stigmas_ feathery and white.

_P. tenellum_, Roxb. Fl. Indica I. 306 is probably not this plant though quoted as a synonym, for it is described as having culms prostrate and rooting at the nodes.

This grass is of wide distribution in the Presidency, but it is nowhere abundant. It is fairly common in cultivated dry fields. Cattle like this grass.

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

=Panicum repens, _L._=

This is a perennial glaucous grass with stoloniferous and rhizomiferous stems bearing ordinary erect leafy branches, and the branches come out piercing through the leaf-sheath (extravaginal).

Stems are numerous, stiff and erect, 1/2 to 3 feet in length, glabrous, covered below by brownish or whitish scale-leaves, and above with densely distichous leaves.

The _leaf-sheath_ is firm, distinctly striate, glabrous, margins ciliate on both sides up to the point of overlapping and then the outer margin alone ciliate. The _ligule_ is a short thin membrane with very short cilia on the free margin. The _nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is glaucous, narrow, lanceolate, thinly coriaceous, acuminate with a hardened tip, 1 to 7 or 9 inches long, 1/2 to 1/4 inch broad, flat or involute when slightly faded, with a few distantly scattered hairs above, especially towards the lower portion of the blade when young, and becoming glabrous later, glabrous on the lower surface, margin is finely serrate and with a few cilia towards the base, some hairs being tubercle-based; base of the blade is rounded or cordate, midrib is prominent and keeled.

1. Spike; 2 and 3. front and back view of a spikelet; 4, 5 and 6. first, second and third glumes; 7. palea of the third glume; 8 and 9. fourth glume and its palea; 10. lodicules, stamens and ovary; 11. leaf showing ligule.]

The _inflorescence_ is a panicle, contracted and not much exserted from the topmost leaf-sheath, 3 to 8 inches long, branches are usually many, erect, the lower being 2 to 5 inches long, slender, angular and scaberulous.

The _spikelets_ are glabrous, erect, pale or pale green, sometimes purplish also on one side, ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1/8 inch, pedicels are long with cupular tips.

There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is hyaline, broadly ovate, rounded and shortly acute or subacute, indistinctly 3- to 5-nerved or nerveless, less than one-third of the height of the third glume. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate-lanceolate acute, 7- to 9-nerved. The _third glume_ is equal to and broader than the second, always paleate and with three stamens and 9-nerved; _palea_ is hyaline, oblong, obtuse or subacute, margins folded. The fourth _glume_ is white, coriaceous, smooth and shining, oblong, acute, shortly and broadly stipitate, with the margins folded inwards exposing only a third of the palea; _palea_ is similar to the glume in texture and marking. _Anthers_ are deep orange in colour. _Lodicules_ are distinct though small. _Stigmas_ are deep purple when mature, and pale when young.

This grass flourishes in moist situations such as the bunds of paddy fields, tank beds and edges of marshes and is an excellent binder of the soil. When once established it is very difficult to get rid of it, on account of its rhizomes. Owing to the resemblance of the rhizomes to ginger, some call this grass Ginger-rooted grass. Cattle are fond of this grass.

_Distribution._--Throughout India, but not so common on the West and not recorded from Bombay. It is said to occur in South Europe, Australia, North Africa and Brazil.

5. Chamæraphis, _Br._

These are glabrous marsh or aquatic grasses. Leaves are linear or lanceolate. The inflorescence is a panicle. The spikelets are one-to two-flowered, subsessile and subsecund on the branches which are produced as awn-like bristles beyond the ultimate spikelet, obscurely jointed and persistent on their obconic short pedicels, narrowly lanceolate and terete. The spikelet consists of four glumes. The first glume is very small, hyaline, suborbicular, nerveless and truncate. The second glume is the longest, green, membranous, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate or narrowed into a rigid awn, 7- to 11-nerved. The third glume is lanceolate, acute, or aristately acuminate, 7-nerved, paleate, male or neuter, the palea is smaller than the glume and hyaline. The fourth glume is much smaller than the third, stipitate, bisexual or female, oblong or ovate-oblong, acute, flat, thinly coriaceous, nerveless and paleate; the palea is hyaline, as broad as the glume, acute and nerveless. The lodicules are cuneate. Stamens are three. Stigmas are laterally exserted. Grain is oblong, compressed.

=Chamæraphis spinescens, _Poir._=

A glabrous aquatic or marsh grass, with much branched floating stems. Stems are leafy, elongate, ascending, varying in length from 1 to 3 feet.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are long, smooth, loose, with naked margins. The _ligule_ is a ridge of hairs. The _nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is flat, narrowly linear-lanceolate, smooth or scabrid, acuminate, base narrowed, 1 to 3-1/2 inches long and 1/16 to 1/8 inch wide.

The _inflorescence_ is a pyramidal panicle, contracted or diffuse, with a leaf very near its base; peduncle is short; branches of the panicle, filiform, angular, flexuous, bearing one or more spikelets and produced as a bristle beyond the last spikelet.

The _spikelets_ are 1/6 to 1/4 rarely 1/3 inch long including the awn, subsessile and somewhat on one side on the branches, obscurely articulate but persistent on the pedicels, pale or green, lanceolate.

There are four glumes in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is hyaline, suborbicular, rounded at the tip and nerveless, 1/30 inch or less. The _second glume_ is membranous, lanceolate, smooth or setosely scabrid on the sides, 9- to 11-nerved, with a long scabrid awn which is sometimes as long as the body of the glume. The _third glume_ is shorter than the second, finely acuminate, or awned, 7-nerved, membranous, paleate and with three _stamens_ and two _lodicules_; the _palea_ is shorter than the glume, linear-oblong, subacute. The _fourth glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, nerveless, acute, paleate with three _stamens_, _ovary_ and two _lodicules_; _palea_ is hyaline, narrow, quarter the length of the third glume. Grain is obovate oblong.

1. Terminal portion of a spike showing the bristle; 2, 3, 4 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 5. palea of third glume with its anthers and lodicules; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8. ovary; 9. lodicules.]

_Distribution._--This plant is found at the edges in ponds, tanks and marshes all over the Presidency.

6. Spinifex, _L._

This is a stout, rigid, much branched, gregarious and dioecious grass, flourishing in sand on the sea coast. Leaves are long, narrow rigid, involute, spreading and recurved and thickly coriaceous. Male spikelets are 1- to 2-flowered, subsessile, distichous, jointed on rigid peduncled spikes, which are collected in umbels and surrounded by spathaceous leafy bracts. The spikelets have four glumes. The first two glumes are empty. The third and the fourth paleate and triandrous and sometimes the former is empty. Female spikelets are collected in large globose heads of stellately spreading very long rigid rod-like processes surrounded by shorter subulate bracts. Each spikelet is solitary, and articulate at the very base of a rachis, lanceolate, 1-flowered. There are four glumes. The first three glumes are as in the male spikelets, but larger. The third is paleate, empty. The fourth glume has a female flower. The lodicules are large and nerved. Styles are long, free, with short, feathery stigmas. Grain free within the hardened glumes.

=Spinifex squarrosus, _L._=

A perennial littoral dioecious grass forming bushes. Stems are glaucous, smooth, solid, woody, thick below, freely branching, 5 to 10 feet long or more.

The _leaf-sheath_ is smooth, imbricating, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. The _ligule_ is a row of stiff long hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, rigid, thickly coriaceous, concavo-convex tapering from the base to the tip, spreading and recurved, 4 to 6 inches long.

The _male inflorescence_ consists of several spikes, 1 to 3 inches long, forming umbels, with membranous leafy spathaceous bracts which are shorter than the spikes.

The _spikelets_ are usually 2-flowered, smooth, articulate on short peduncles, distichous, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long.

There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is shorter than the second, ovate, obtuse, 7- to 9-nerved. The _second glume_ is similar to the first, but longer. The _third_ and the _fourth glumes_ are longer than the second glume, 5- to 7-nerved, paleate and triandrous; _palea_ of both are lanceolate with ciliate keels.

Male plant--1. A branch with the male inflorescence; 2. a spike; 3. a spikelet; 4, 5, 6 and 7. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 6a. palea of the third glume; 6b. extra palea like structure found occasionally in the palea of the third glume; 7a. palea and lodicules of the fourth glume.]

The _female inflorescence_ is a large globose head consisting of short spikelets articulate at the very base of the rachis, short bracts and very long, spreading, rigid rod-like rachises. The _spikelets_ are solitary with four glumes and 2-flowered. The _first glume_ is oblong-lanceolate, many-nerved, longer than the other glumes. The _second glume_ is shorter, 7-nerved. The _third glume_ is empty, 5-nerved. The _fourth glume_ is ovate-lanceolate and abruptly narrowed above the middle, 5-nerved and paleate, palea is shorter than the glume but broader, 2-nerved and acute. _Lodicules_ are two, large, cuneate at base and strongly nerved. _Stigmas_ are oblong. Grain is clavate and tipped by the style base.

This grass grows luxuriantly in the sands near the sea on both the coasts of the Madras Presidency.

Female plant--1. A branch with female inflorescence; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 6. palea of the fourth glume; 7. ovary and the lodicules.]

_Distribution._--Throughout the sandy coasts of India and Ceylon.

7. Axonopus, _Beauv._

These are annual or perennial grasses. Inflorescence is a panicle consisting of digitate or whorled, slender or stout spike-like racemes. Spikelets are solitary, binate or fasciculate, 2-flowered, jointed on the pedicel and awned. There are four glumes. The first glume is the shortest, ovate, acuminate, aristate or cuspidate, hyaline, glabrous and 3-nerved. The second glume is ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or awned, 5-nerved, lateral nerves being marginal and hairy. The third glume is oblong or oblong ovate, acute, 5-nerved, paleate, male; palea is very short and small, bipartite. The fourth glume is as long as the third and the second, oblong or ovate, coriaceous, narrowed into a straight terminal awn, paleate and bisexual; palea is oblong, coriaceous and 2-nerved. Lodicules are cuneate. Stamens are three with linear anthers. Stigmas are linear, laterally exserted. Grain is oblong, free within the hardened glume and its palea.

=Axonopus cimicinus, _Beauv._=

It is a perennial grass. Stems are tufted, erect or slightly decumbent at the base, 1 to 2 feet long.

The _leaf-sheath_ is distinctly striate, covered with scattered long tubercle-based hairs, very rarely glabrous, keeled. The _ligule_ consists of a row of hairs. The _nodes_ are hairy.

The _leaf-blade_ is flat, ovate-lanceolate, broad and cordate at base, subacute or obtuse, with a distinct midrib and three main veins on each side of it, glabrous on both sides, but usually with tubercle-based hairs on the two sides of the midrib, on the lower side, the margins are distinctly ciliate with tubercle-based long stiff hairs and very finely serrate; the blade varies in length from 3/4 to 3 inches and in breadth from 3/4 to 1/2 inch.

The _inflorescence_ consists of three to ten spikes springing from the top of a slender glabrous peduncle 2 to 6 inches long. The _spikes_ are whorled, about 3 inches or so in length, naked towards the base to about one-fourth of its length, the rachis is fine, filiform, scabrid.

The _spikelets_ are solitary or binate, dorsally compressed, pale green or reddish, very shortly pedicelled, 1/4 to 5/16 inch long inclusive of the short awn, pedicel is cupular at the tip.

There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is somewhat narrow ovate-lanceolate, hyaline, acuminate and 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate-lanceolate, twice as long as the _first glume_, cuspidately acuminate, 5-nerved; the two marginal nerves are provided with long reddish bristly hairs. The _third glume_ is oblong lanceolate, obtuse, 5-nerved, a little shorter than the second glume, paleate and with stamens; _palea_ is short. The _fourth glume_ is coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, nearly as long as the second glume, awned at the apex, paleate, with three stamens and an ovary; the _palea_ is as long as the glume, elliptic oblong, obtuse. _Lodicules_ are small, cuneate.

1. A portion of the spike showing spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 4a and 5a. the palea of the third and the fourth glume, respectively; 6. lodicules, stamens and the ovary.]

This is a common grass growing in the plains and lower hills in waste places.

_Distribution._--Occurs all over India.

8. Setaria, _Beauv._

These are usually annuals. Inflorescence is usually a spike-like panicle. Spikelets are 1- to 2-flowered, jointed on very short pedicels which bear persistent scabrid or barbed bristles (modified branchlets). There are four glumes. The first glume is the shortest, equal to about half the length of the third, membranous, 3- to 5-nerved. The second glume is equal to or shorter than the fourth, 5- to 7-nerved. The third glume more or less exceeding and resembling the second glume, neuter, rarely paleate and male. The fourth glume is coriaceous or crustaceous, plano-convex, bisexual, 5-nerved and paleate; palea is as long as the glume. Lodicules are broadly cuneate. Stamens are three. Stigmas are laterally exserted. Grain is tightly enclosed by the hardened glume and its palea and is oblong or ellipsoid.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Bristles with spreading or erect barbs.

Inflorescence cylindric, continuous
and not interrupted, with six to
twelve bristles in the involucel 1. S. glauca.

Inflorescence interrupted, with three
to six bristles in the involucel 2. S. intermedia.

Bristles with reversed barbs 3. S. verticillata.

=Setaria glauca, _Beauv._=

This is a tufted annual grass. Stems are slender, simple or branched, erect or ascending.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are glabrous. _Nodes_ are glabrous and sometimes the lower are rooting. The _ligule_ is a fringe of long hairs.

The _leaf-blades_ are lanceolate-linear, flat, finely acuminate, with a rounded base and very finely and minutely serrate margin, glabrous on both the surfaces or occasionally sparsely hairy on the upper surface and varying in length from 4 to 12 inches or more, and in breadth from 1/4 to 1/3 inch.

The _inflorescence_ is a cylindric, densely flowered, spike-like raceme, 1 to 4 inches long, usually yellow, rarely purplish or pale green, the bristles of involucels vary from six to twelve and are pale or reddish brown, 1/6 to 1/3 inch long with fine erect or spreading barbs.

The _spikelets_ are numerous and are very closely set along the rachis of the inflorescence, 1/8 inch long, glabrous and ellipsoidal.

There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is less than half the length of the third glume, broadly ovate, hyaline, 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is a little longer than the first but shorter than the third, broadly ovate or suborbicular, hyaline, 5-nerved. The _third glume_ is longer than the second, as long as the fourth, membranous and 5-nerved, paleate, empty or with stamens. The _fourth glume_ is coriaceous, broadly elliptic, obtuse, dorsally convex, transversely rugose, pale. The _anthers_ are orange and the _styles_ purple.

A and B. spikelets; C. a bristle; 1, 2 and 3. The first, second and the third glume, respectively; 4. palea of the third glume; 5. the fourth glume; 6. palea of the fourth glume; 7. ovary, anthers and lodicules.]

This is a fairly common grass especially in cultivated ground all over the Presidency, but not very widely distributed. Cattle are fond of this grass.

_Distribution._--Throughout India.

=Setaria intermedia, _R. & S._=

This is an annual with straggling, slender, erect or ascending stems, 2 to 3 feet long.

The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, keeled, with the margins ciliate with long hairs. The _ligule_ is a fringe of close set long hairs. The _nodes_ are glabrous and the lower rooting.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, narrowed towards the base, finely acuminate, with fine hairs scattered on both the surfaces and with numerous long hairs at the mouth and with very finely serrate margins, varying in length from 2 to 8 inches or more, 1/8 to 3/4 inch in breadth.

The _inflorescence_ is a narrowly pyramidal spike-like panicle, 4 to 6 inches long, the main rachis is glabrous and grooved, branches are short, crowded above, scattered and distant below, with close and densely set spikelets; the bristles of involucels are 1/4 inch long, slender, flexuous with erect barbs varying in number from three to six.

The _spikelets_ are ovoid.

There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is orbicular, oblong or ovate, about one-third the length of the third glume, hyaline, 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is half as long as the third, broadly ovate, hyaline, 5-nerved. The _third glume_ is as long as the fourth, broadly ovate, thinly membranous, 5-nerved, paleate, empty. The _fourth glume_ is broadly ovate, or suborbicular, very concave, coriaceous, transversely rugulose, yellowish brown. _Anthers_ are orange or yellow and _styles_ purplish. _Lodicules_ are very small.

1. A branch with spikelets; 2 and 2a. spikelets; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 5a. the palea of the third glume; 6. the fourth glume; 6a. the fourth glume and its palea; 6b. palea of the fourth glume; 7. ovary, anthers and lodicules.]

Fairly common in rich soils in sheltered places. Cattle are very fond of this grass as the leaves are flaccid and tender.

_Distribution._--Probably all over India.

=Setaria verticillata, _Beauv._=

This is an annual grass, with erect, ascending, stout or slender, leafy stems, more or less branched and varying in length from 1 to 5 feet.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are smooth, glabrous. The _ligule_ is a fringe of hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blades_ are thin, flat, glabrous, sparsely hairy and scaberulous, linear or linear-lanceolate, tapering to a fine point, base usually narrowed, 4 to 10 inches long and 1/4 to 3/4 inch broad.

The _inflorescence_ is a spike-like or subpyramidal panicle, cylindric or oblong, coarsely bristly, 2 to 7 inches long, bristles one or few, studded with conspicuously reversed barbs or teeth, 1/6 to 1/3 inch long.

The _spikelets_ are ellipsoidal, obtuse, glabrous, 1/12 inch long.

There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is very small, broadly ovate, acute, hyaline, faintly 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is as long as the spikelet or a little shorter, ovate, subacute, thinly membranous and 5-nerved. The _third glume_ is equal to the second or a little longer, membranous and 5-nerved, paleate or empty, palea when present, is small and hyaline. The _fourth glume_ is elliptic-oblong, plano-convex, subobtuse, smooth or shining, though faintly striate, coriaceous with incurved margins; _palea_ is coriaceous, as long as the glume, elliptic, faintly striate. _Stamens_ are three. _Lodicules_ are small.

1 and 2. Spikelets with bristles; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 6. palea of the third glume; 7 and 8. the fourth glume and its palea; 9. ovary, stamens and lodicules; 10. a bit of the bristle showing the reversed barbs.]

This grass grows in shady places in very rich soils generally and is abundant in shady nooks and corners where there are rubbish heaps.

_Distribution._--Throughout India and Ceylon.

9. Pennisetum, _Pers._

These are annual or perennial grasses. Leaves are usually narrow. The inflorescence is a spike-like raceme consisting of involucellate clusters of shortly pedicellate spikelets, involucels consist of unequal, simple or branched bristles. Spikelets are obovoid or lanceolate, 1- to 2-flowered, persistent on their stalks, one to three in an involucel. There are usually four glumes in a spikelet. The first glume is minute or absent. The second glume is shorter than the third, membranous, 3- to 5-nerved, rarely wanting. The third glume is as long as the fourth, lanceolate, paleate or not, male or empty. The fourth glume is coriaceous, lanceolate, bisexual or female. There are three stamens with linear anthers. Styles long. Lodicules are small if present. Grain is oblong, free within the hardened fourth glume and its palea.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

Bristles of the involucel slender and not 1. P. Alopecuros. dilated at the base, and free; leaves very long.

Bristles of the involucel dilated below 2. P. cenchroides. and connate at base.

=Pennisetum Alopecuros, _Steud._=

This is a perennial grass, densely tufted and growing to a height of 2 to 3-1/2 feet. Stems are stout, erect and much branched above.

The _leaf-sheaths_ are distichous, compressed, glabrous or rarely hairy.

The _leaf-blades_ are convolute, narrow, linear, coriaceous, strongly keeled, glabrous but with tufts of soft hairs at the base, 12 to 18 inches long, 1/10 to 1/6 inch broad. The _ligule_ is a ring of hairs.

The _inflorescence_ is a spike-like raceme, varying in length from 5 to 7 inches. The involucels are shortly stalked, with a few unequal bristles which are free down to the base and two to three times as long as the spikelet.

_Spikelets_ are lanceolate, acute, solitary, 3/8 inch long.

A and B. Spikelets front and back view; 1, 2, 3 and 4. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 5. palea of the fourth glume; 6. the ovary, stamens and lodicules.]

The _first glume_ is very small, almost orbicular, hyaline and nerveless. The _second glume_ is about 1/3 the length of the third glume, lanceolate, acuminate, 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is about 1/3 inch long, lanceolate, acuminate, 7- to 11-nerved, epaleate and with infolded margins. The _fourth glume_ is a little longer than the third, lanceolate, acuminate, with infolded margins 5- or 6-nerved, paleate and enclosing a complete flower. The _palea_ is lanceolate, acuminate, as long as the glume. There are three _stamens_ with long, narrow, yellow anthers. _Stigmas_ are feathery. _Lodicules_ are either absent or very minute.

This is a very coarse grass usually growing in stiff soils especially near wet places.

_Distribution._--Occurs all over Southern India both on the plains and on low hills.

=Pennisetum cenchroides, _Rich._=

This grass is a perennial. It consists of aerial branches and underground rhizomiferous stems, bearing thick fibrous roots and numerous buds covered by scarious sheaths. The aerial branches are tufted, erect or decumbent and geniculately ascending when in flower, much branched from the base, 6 to 24 inches long (under favourable conditions may reach even 3 to 4 feet in length).

The _leaf-sheath_ is slightly compressed, keeled, with scattered long hairs outside, shorter than the internodes. The _ligule_ is a short thin membrane fringed with hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear, tapering to a very fine point 1-1/2 to 6 inches (sometimes 18 to 20 inches) by 1/8 to 1/4 inch scaberulous with fine long tubercle-based deciduous hairs scattered above, and the lower surface glabrous or with a few distantly scattered fine long hairs, broad at the base and constricted at the point of junction with the sheath.

The _inflorescence_ is a raceme of spikes, varying from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches, with the spikes mostly densely arranged, though occasionally distant and not close-set, on a long; slender, puberulous or scaberulous peduncle; _rachis_ is flexuous, flattened, grooved and scaberulous. The _spikes_ have involucels, consisting of two series of bristles, the outer bristles are horizontal or reflexed, numerous, fine, filiform, scabrid and purple above, shorter or longer than the spikelets; the inner bristles are two to three times longer than the spikelets, flattened and thickened at the base with a strong green nerve, ciliated with long tubercle-based hairs; one of the bristles is longer than the others and the bases of the bristles are connate at the very base into a ring; the upper portion of the bristles are filiform, scabrid and purple, the lower flattened portion being pale.

1. A portion of a spike; 2 and 3. spikelets with their involucels; 4. a bristle; 5, 6, 7 and 8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 7a and 8a. palea of the third and the fourth glume, respectively; 9. ovary and stamens.]

_Spikelets_ are about 1/5 inch long oblong-lanceolate, one to three in a spike and sessile.

There are four _glumes_ in a spikelet. The _first glume_ is small, hyaline, ovate-lanceolate, acute, nerveless or sometimes 1-nerved. The _second glume_ is a little longer than the first, ovate, acute, about half of the third glume, hyaline, 1 to 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, generally 5- to 7-nerved, paleate, usually male; _palea_ is lanceolate, equal to or slightly shorter than the glume. The _fourth glume_ is as long as the third with a broad hyaline margin, 5-nerved paleate; palea as long as the glume. _Anthers_ are three, yellow, _stigmas_ white, feathery and the styles shortly united at the base. _Lodicules_ are not present.

This is the famous Kolakattai grass (Tamil) of the Coimbatore District and it grows in all kinds of soil and is capable of growing even when the soil is dry. It is readily eaten by cattle, sheep, goat and when once established is not easily killed out even by prolonged droughts. It is in flower in June, November and December.

_Distribution._--Fairly common in South India and Western India. Said to occur in Tropical Africa also.

There is a variety of this grass named _echinoides_. This differs from the type in the following respects--the inner bristles are united very much above the base and much thickened and stiffer than in the type. (See fig. 116-3)

10. Cenchrus, _L._

The inflorescences are spike-like racemes, consisting of involucellate clusters of shortly pedicelled spikelets jointed on a simple rachis. The involucel consists of hardened spike-like bristles connate at the base into a short coriaceous cup, which is surrounded by erect or squarrose bristles. Spikelets one to three in each involucel, persistent, 1- to 2-flowered, with three or four glumes. The first glume is very small or absent. The second and the third glumes are subequal 5- to 7-nerved. The third glume is longer than the second with male flower or not, paleate. The fourth glume is coriaceous, with a bisexual or female flower. Lodicules are two. Stamens are three. Styles are long, free or connate below. Grain is broad, oblong and compressed.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

Base of involucel rounded; inner bristles
shorter, erect, not ciliate 1. C. biflorus.

Base of involucel turbinate, inner bristles
longer, spreading and spinescent, ciliate
at base 2. C. catharticus.

=Cenchrus biflorus, _Roxb._=

This is an annual with erect simple stems, 6 to 24 inches long.

The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous or nearly so, with hairs at the mouth.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, glabrous or hairy, 3 to 10 inches long and 1/8 to 3/8 inch broad.

The _inflorescence_ is a solitary cylindric raceme of involucels, 2 to 4 inches long, enclosed in the uppermost leaf-sheath; the _rachis_ is flexuous, angular and smooth. _Involucels_ usually with two, rarely three spikelets, loosely imbricate, rounded at the base; the inner bristles are erect, dorsally flat, subulate-lanceolate, puberulous and with thickened margins, about 1/8 inch long. The outer are shorter than the inner, glabrous, erect or subsquarrose and as long as the sessile spikelets.

The _spikelets_ are about 1/6 inch long, sub-globose, with four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is about 1/10 inch long, ovate-acuminate, very thin, hyaline, nerveless or rarely 1-nerved. The _second glume_ is broadly ovate, 1/6 inch long, hyaline, acute, 1-nerved. The _third glume_ is slightly longer than the second, oblong-ovate, apiculate, 5-nerved and paleate; _palea_ 1/8 inch obtuse. The _fourth glume_ is as long as the third, ovate, obtuse, paleate. _Anthers_ are three. _Styles_ free almost to the base. The grain is 1/12 by 1/16 inch orbicular oblong, compressed, smooth and pale brown.

1. A portion of the raceme; 2. an involucel; 3, 4, 5 and 7. the first, second, third and the fourth glume respectively; 6 and 8. palea of the third and the fourth glumes; 9. the ovary and stamens; 10 grain.]

This grass is not so widely distributed as _Cenchrus catharticus_. It is confined to some East Coast districts.

_Distribution._--The Punjab, Gangetic plain, Concan, Sind and Coromandel. Also said to occur in Africa and Arabia.

=Cenchrus catharticus, _Delile._=

A tufted annual grass with geniculately ascending stems, branching at the base.

The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and somewhat inflated. The _ligule_ is a fringe of hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate, finely acuminate, 1 to 4 inches long and 1/8 to 1/4 inch broad.

The _inflorescence_ is usually enclosed in the leaf-sheath, 1 to 6 inches long; the _rachis_ is flexuous, angular and glabrous. The involucels are 1/4 to 1/2 inch across, turbinate or truncate at base with an outer, shorter and inner longer series of hard, sharp, pungent spines; the inner subulate, dorsally deeply grooved, very much longer than the spikelets; margins ciliate to about half the distance from the base, and the upper half covered with very short, sharp and stiff, reflexed hairs; the outer are shorter than the spikelets, spreading or erect, glabrous or nearly so and covered with reflexed hairs.

The _spikelets_ are usually one to two and rarely three in an involucel and each one has four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate and nerveless or ovate-lanceolate and 1-nerved, half as long as the third glume, hyaline and acute. The _second glume_ is about 1/6 inch long, ovate, acute, membranous, 5-nerved. The _third glume_ is similar to the second, paleate; _palea_ is lanceolate and short. The _fourth glume_ is as long as the third, cuspidately acuminate, membranous, 5-nerved and paleate; _palea_ is ovate, as long as the glume. _Stamens_ are three. _Styles_ are free and long with plumose stigmas. The grain is ovoid-oblong, brown and compressed.

1. A portion of the spike; 2. an involucel with two spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 7. the first, second, third and the fourth glume respectively; 6 and 8. palea of the third and the fourth glume respectively; 9. the ovary and stamens; 10. grain.]

This grass is more common than _C. biflorus_ and is found on the East Coast districts in open sandy places.

_Distribution._--Nellore, Bellary, the Punjab and the Gangetic Plains.