Fig 154.—Andropogon squarrosus. 1. A portion of a branch; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. palea of the fourth glume; 8. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 9, 10, 11 and 12. glumes of the pedicelled spikelet; 13. palea of the fourth glume.
Thesessile spikeletsare about 1/6 inch long, lanceolate and with a shortly bearded callus. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis 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. Thethird glumeis broadly oblong, hyaline, nerveless or rarely with two obscure veins ciliolate at the margins and acute or acuminate. Thefourth glumeis shorter than the third, linear-oblong, mucronate or very shortly awned at the apex, paleate;paleaabout two-thirds the length of the glume, lanceolate.Lodiculesare two, quadrate and conspicuousthough small.Stylesandstigmasshort.Stamensare three with yellow anthers.Stigmasare purple.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare similar to the sessile ones, but are slightly smaller and the prickles are less prominent. Thefourth glumehas 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 thekhus-khusgrass.
Distribution.—Throughout the plains and lower hills of India, Burma and Ceylon, also said to occur in Java and Tropical Africa.
(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.
Theleaf-sheathsare distichous and towards the base of the stem are 1/2 inch broad, compressed, keeled and with scattered tubercle-based hairs. Theliguleis a short membrane fringed with close set hairs.
Fig. 155.—Andropogon asper.Leafy shoot, a bit of the stem with leaf-sheaths and a bit of the leaf.
Theleaf-bladesare 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 thebase are longer, and varying in length from 12 to 18 inches and in breadth from 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
Thepanicleis 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.
Thesessile spikeletsare 1/4 inch long, laterally compressed, with a long callus villous all round, and bisexual. Thefirst glumeis coriaceous, linear-oblong, strongly compressed above and with a few stiff short bristles beneath the tip. Thesecond glumeis 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. Thethird glumeis hyaline, narrow, obtuse, shorter than the second, 2-nerved, ciliate. Thefourth glumeis the linear, hyaline, 3-nerved base of the awn; theawnis 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches and bent at about the middle.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare 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. Thefirst glumeis thin, 2-toothed or not at the tip, awned,awnbeing 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. Thesecond glumeis lanceolate-acuminate, not awned, 3-nerved, margins hyaline, and ciliolate. Thethird glumeis hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved, ciliolate. Thefourth glumeis linear or linear-lanceolate, hyaline, nerveless or 1-nerved.
Fig. 156.—Andropogon asper.1. Spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. the ovary, lodicules and stamens; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 11. callus of the spike.
This grass grows abundantly on the sides of the Kambakkam Drug, Chingleput district, and in Penchalkonda, Nellore district, and seems to be an endemic species. It is usually confined to the hill sides and not found in the plains. This grass is very closely allied toAndropogon Wightianusand 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 thanA. Wightianus.
Distribution.—Kambakkam Drug in the Chingleput district and Penchalkonda in Nellore district.
(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.
Theleaf-sheathis flattened, softly hairy or glabrous, often ciliated near the mouth. Theliguleis a fringe of very short hairs.
Theleaf-bladeis narrowly or rarely broadly linear, obtuse or acute and abruptly mucronate, or narrowly drawn into a point glabrous or pubescent, margins shortly ciliate.
Thepanicleis 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. Thespikesare solitary and each one consists of one sessile and two pedicelled spikelets. The callus is long and densely bearded with brown hairs.
Fig. 157.—Andropogon Wightianus.1. A spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. lodicules, stamens and the ovary; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet.
Sessile spikeletsare bisexual, sub-cylindric about 1/4 inch long. There are fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis chartaceous, distinctly awned, theawnbeing as long as the glume or longer, hispid above and at the sides also. Thethird glumeis hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved ciliate. Thefourth glumeis narrow with hyaline margins,with anawn2 to 3 inches long;awnis 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 spikeletsare 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 fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis about 3/8 inch, ciliate, along the inflexed margin, 7-nerved, awned;awnequal to or longer than the glume. Thesecond glumeis as long as the first, shortly awned or acuminate, 3-nerved, ciliate. Thethird glumeis hyaline, oblong, 2-nerved, sparsely ciliate. Thefourth glumeis narrow, ciliate, nerveless or rarely 1-nerved, erose or bifid at the top.Anthersthree or more.
This grass grows on the plains as well as on the hills. It is very closely allied toAndropogon asper, Heyne, and it is very difficult to distinguish them.Andropogon Wightianusis somewhat smaller compared withAndropogon asper, and the tubercle-based bristles on the leaf-sheaths, so characteristic ofA. asper, is absent.
Distribution.—Madras, Chingleput district, Kodaikānal and the Nilgiris.
(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.
Theleaf-sheathsare sparsely hairy or glabrous, the lower somewhat compressed and the upper terete. Theliguleis a short, ciliated membrane. Thenodesare glabrous.
Theleaf-bladeis 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.
Theinflorescenceis an open panicle, ovate or oblong, varying in length from 2 to 5 inches; therachisis slender, smooth or scaberulous, the branches are capillary, whorled and spreading, tip oblique, bearded and bearing a single sessile and two pedicellate spikelets.
Fig. 158.—Andropogon monticola.1. Sessile and pedicellate spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. anthers, ovary and lodicules; A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelet; A-5. lodicules of the pedicelled spikelet.
Thesessile spikeletsare bisexual, about 1/4 inch or less, with a long callus bearded on one side with long rusty hairs. There are fourglumesin the spikelet. Thefirst glumeis chartaceous, linear, complicate, 2-toothed at the tip and with short bristles towards the apex, 4-veined. Thesecond glumeis chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate, much broader than the first, ciliate with long rufous bristles on the keel, shortly toothed at the apex with anawnabout 1/3 of an inch and with broadly hyaline margins. Thethird glumeis hyaline, narrow-oblong, ciliate and obtuse. Thefourth glumeis narrow, oblong, hyaline with anawnnearly an inch long. There arethreestamensand twolodicules. Thestigmasare long and feathery.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare as long as the sessile and the pedicels are flattened and with long rufous hairs on both the margins. There are fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis lanceolate, acute and awned between two teeth, 7-nerved and scaberulous. Thesecond glumeis lanceolate, acuminate, with thinly ciliate hyaline margins, 3-nerved. Thethird glumeis shorter than the second, narrow, hyaline, ciliate at the margins, 2-nerved. Thefourth glumealso is small, hyaline, ciliate, and 1-nerved. There are threestamensand twolodicules.
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.
This is a perennial grass more or less tufted in habit and closely allied toAndropogon 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, withnodesbearded or not in branches ending in solitary spikes, and completely glabrous when they end in binate spikes.
The leaf-sheathsare glabrous, rather compressed, striate, shorter than the internodes.Liguleis membranous, short, very finely ciliolate or not.
The leaf-bladeis 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.
Fig. 159.—Andropogon caricosus.1 and 2. Front and back view of a bit of spike; 3. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. awn representing the fourth glume; 8. stamens, lodicules and the ovary; 9. the first glume of the pedicelled spikelet.
The spikesare 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 spikeletsare about 1/8 inch, imbricate, a sessile and a stalked one from the top of each joint, greenish or purple. Thesessile spikeletcontains a bisexual flower and consists of four glumes. The callus is short, and shortly hairy below. Thefirst glumeis 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 hairybelow the middle. Thesecond glumeis 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. Thethird glumeis hyaline, ovate-oblong, acute, nerveless, margins sparsely ciliate or not. Thefourth glumeis the base of the awn, 3/4 to 1 inch, scaberulous.Stamensare three with yellow or purple tinged anthers,ovaryoblong with two featherystigmas.Lodiculesare two, cuneate.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare either male or neuter and consist of fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis membranous, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved (occasionally 4-nerved), margins are thinly ciliate and infolded. Thethird glumeis hyaline, nerveless and ciliate. Thefourth glumeis hyaline, nerveless, linear and oblong, glabrous, small, the apex is narrowed and deeply bifid. There are threestamensand twolodicules.
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 thanA. 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.
Fig. 160.—Andropogon annulatus.1. Full plant; 2. base of the leaf and ligule.
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.
Theleaf-sheathis terete, glabrous, shining, green or purplish, closed, with margins where separate ciliated and profusely so at the tip especially the outer or both. Theliguleis membranous truncate, glabrous, about 1/16 inch in height.Nodesare purple and softly villous.
Fig. 161.—Andropogon annulatus.1. Front and back views of a portion of the spike; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. the ovary, stamens and lodicules; 8, 9 and 10. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelet.
Theleaf-bladeis linear-lanceolate, acuminate, scabrid, sparsely hairy, becoming glabrous except at the base and with tubercle-based hairs on the upper surface.
The spikesvary 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. Thepeduncleof 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.Jointsof therachisand thepedicelsare slightly flattened, ciliated along the narrow edges; thepedicelsof the stalked spikelets are half as long as the sessile spikelets. The spikelets are one sessile and one pedicelled and imbricating on the rachis.
Thesessile spikeletis as long as the stalked or a little less, with a thick callus, shortly bearded at the base or sometimes glabrous and consists of fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis smaller than the first glume, acute, membranous, 3-nerved and keeled, the margins are ciliate and infolded. Thethird glumeis hyaline, linear, acute, or obtuse, nerveless sparsely hairy at the tip, very much shorter than the second glume. Thefourth glumeis anawnwith a linear hyaline base, erect, about an inch long.Stamensare three,ovaryis oblong with two feathery, dark purplestigmas.Lodiculesare two, cuneate.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare male and consist of only three glumes. Thefirst glumeis elliptic, oblong, irregularly obtuse, about 11-nerved, margins slightly infolded with long pilose hairs throughout, more along the margin. Thesecond glumeis a little smaller, 3-nerved, sparsely hairy only along the marginal nerves, folded inwards, and slightly keeled. Thethird glumeis shorter than the second, hyaline, nerveless, narrow-lanceolate, acute;stamensare three, with green anthers, purple-dotted.Lodiculesare 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.
Fig. 162.—Andropogon contortus.
(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.
Fig. 163.—Andropogon contortus.1. Lower pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 2. upper pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of pedicelled spikelets; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 11. ovary.
Theleaf-sheathis smooth or sparsely hairy, compressed and shortly auricled or not at the mouth. Theliguleis short, truncate and ciliolate.
Theleaf-bladesare 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.
Theinflorescenceconsists of a solitary spike with closely imbricating spikelets.
Thespikeletsare all on one side, and the lower two to six pairs of pedicelled and sessile spikelets are all males. Thesessile spikeletsare all female and awned, except the few lower which are maleand awnless, 1/4 inch long. Thecallusis long, acute, bearded with reddish-brown hairs. There are fourglumesin the spikelet. Thefirst glumeis narrow, linear-oblong, truncate or rounded, somewhat brown, many-nerved, hispid, with incurved margins and membranous tip. Thesecond glumeis linear, obtuse, coriaceous, dark-brown, hispidulous, 3-nerved with incurved margins. Thethird glumeis oblong, hyaline, thin, nerveless, short and truncate. Thefourth glumeis reduced to an awn, 3 inches or more in length. Theovaryis linear with two longstigmas.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare somewhat longer than the sessile 1/3 to 1/2 inch, with very short pedicels. Thefirst glumeis lanceolate, obliquely twisted, hispid at the back with long bulbous-based hairs, margins more or less unequally winged. Thesecond glumeis oblong lanceolate, acuminate, 5-nerved, thinly ciliate with hyaline margins. Thethird glumeis oblong, hyaline, 1-nerved and ciliate. Thefourth glumeis obovate-oblong or oblong, hyaline, ciliate, nerveless. There are threestamens.
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 thespear grassof 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.
(Cymbopogon cæsius, Stapf.)
This is a perennial grass with stout or slender, erect stems rising from a woody base, leafy upward, simple or branched.
Theleaf-sheathis smooth and glabrous. Theliguleis an oblong-ovate membrane.Nodesare glabrous.
Theleaf-bladeis 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.
Thepanicleis 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.
Fig. 164.—Andropogon Schoenanthus.1. A sessile and two pedicelled spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and fourth glume of the sessile spikelet, respectively; 6. ovary; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes of the pedicelled spikelets in order.
Thespikesare 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.
Thespikeletsare binate, one sessile and the other pedicelled.
Thesessile spikeletsin 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 fourglumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis lanceolate, cymbiform, acute or acuminate, 3-nerved, margins hyaline, ciliate, as long as the firstchartaceous and the keel with a serrulate wing above the middle. Thethird glumeis linear oblong, hyaline, obtuse, ciliate, nerveless. Thefourth glumeis the narrowly winged 2-lobed base of the awn, lobes are lanceolate erect andpaleaof the fourth glume is minute.Lodiculesare cuneate.Stamensare three.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, glabrous and male. There are threeglumes. Thefirst glumeis glabrous or rarely puberulous, margins incurved, obtuse, 9- to 11-nerved. Thesecond glumeis ovate, acute, 3-nerved. Thethird glumeis 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.
(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 theinvolucrantspikelets, 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.
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.
Theleaf-sheathis smooth, compressed. Theliguleis a narrow membrane.
Theleaf-bladeis 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.
Theinflorescenceis 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.
Fig. 165.—Anthistiria tremula.1. Fascicles of three spikes with the outer bracts and proper bracts; 2. a spike without its proper bract; 3. the pedicelled and the bisexual spikelets without the involucral spikelets; 4, the first glume of the involucral spikelet with one wing only; 4a. the first glume of the involucral spikelet with wings to both the keels; 5 and 6. the second and the third glume of the involucral spikelet; 7, 8 and 9. the glumes of the bisexual spikelet; 10, 11, 12 and 13. glumes of the bisexual spikelet; 14. ovary.
Theinvolucral spikeletsare the longest, in contiguous superposed pairs, about 1/2 inch long, and the rachis of the spike is produced beyond these spikelets. There are threeglumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis oblong-lanceolate, acute, margins thin and membranous, inflexed, ciliate above the middle, 3-nerved. Thethird glumeis as long as the second, hyaline, very narrowly linear, 1-nerved.Stamensare three and thelodiculesare cuneate.
Thepedicelled spikeletsare usually smaller than the involucral spikelets and similar to them. Thefirst glumeis winged on one side in the lowest spikelet and without wings in the others.
Thebisexual or (female) spikeletsare linear-oblong, obtuse, and the callus with reddish hairs. Thefirst glumeis scabrid, deeply channelled at the back, nerveless, narrowly truncate at the tip, and hispid near the apex. Thesecond glumeis as long as the first, linear, hyaline, 3-nerved, chartaceous at the back with the sides membranous and incurved. Thethird glumeis small, hyaline, 1-nerved and epaleate. Thefourth glumeis 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.
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, terete1. I. laxum.Panicle crowded, leafy; involucral spikelets 1/6 inch or more, very strongly nerved; pedicel harder, firmer and flattened2. I. anthephoroides.
Fig. 166.—Iseilema laxum.
It is a tufted perennial grass with a stout, short, creeping root-stock. Stems are slender, branched, ascending, 6 to 24 inches long.
Theleaf-sheathsare somewhat loose, glabrous. Theliguleis a shortly ciliate membrane.
Theleaf-bladeis 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.
Fig. 167.—Iseilema laxum.1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes. 2. a cluster consisting of the involucral spikelets and three inner spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets consisting of one sessile female or bisexual and 2-pedicelled male spikelets; 4, 5 and 6. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the involucral spikelet.
Theinflorescenceis 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. Thefirst glumeis oblong-lanceolate, acute, 5- to 7-nerved and ciliate. Thesecond glumeis oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, equal or slightly shorter than the first, glabrous, 3-nerved and with infolded margins. Thethird glumeis 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. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, sub-chartaceous, 3-nerved. Thethird glumeis hyaline, nerveless, apex irregularly cut, short; sometimes this glume is wanting. Thefourth glumeis a very slender awn of about 1/2 inch.
Fig. 168.—Iseilema laxum.1. Inner spikelets consisting of 2-pedicelled male and two female or bisexual spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelets; 6. ovary; 7, 8 and 9. the first, second and the third glume, respectively, of the inner pedicelled spikelet.
This is a widely spread common grass growing in somewhat moist situations. This is the well-known Chengali gaddi of the Telugu districts.
Distribution.—All over Madras and Bombay presidencies.
Fig. 169.—Iseilema anthephoroides.
This is a perennial grass closely resemblingIseilema laxumin its habit, but shorter, stouter and branching more freely. The leaf is similar to that ofI. laxumin all its parts.
Fig. 170.—Iseilema anthephoroides.1. A cluster of spikelets with spathes; 2. the involucral and the inner spikelets; 3. the inner spikelets; 4 and 5. the glumes of the involucral spikelets; 6, 7, 8 and 9. the four glumes, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 10. ovary; 11 and 12. glumes of the inner pedicelled spikelets.
Thepedicelled spikeletsof the involucel have firmer harder, shorter and broader pedicels, thickly bearded and consist of two glumes only. Thefirst glumeis very strongly 5-nerved, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate; with scaberulous infolded margins, with long cilia. Thesecond glumeis lanceolate, thin, 3-nerved, glabrous. The innerpedicelled spikeletsare similar to the pedicelled spikelets of the involucel. Thesessile spikelethas four glumes. Thefirst glumeis 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. Thesecond glumeis shorter than the first, lanceolate, drawn out into an acuminate point at the apex, hairy at the back. Thethird glumeis hyaline, short, oblong, apex broad and irregularly toothed, nerveless. Thefourth glumeis 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.
The tribeAgrostideæis a very small one. It is represented in South India only by a few genera. The spikelets are usually 1-flowered and the rachilla is jointed at the base just above the empty glumes and it is not produced beyond the flowering glume. There are only three glumes in the spikelet.
Sub. Tribe 1.Stipeæ.—The spikelets are narrow and long, panicles and the flowering glumes are rigid or hard, and awned.The third glume is narrow, long, awn 3-fid.31. Aristida.Sub. Tribe 2.Euagrosteæ.—The spikelets are very small, in open or contracted panicles.The third glume is thin and membranous, awnless.32. Sporobolus.
Chlorideæis also a small tribe with about ten genera, most of them being very common in Southern India. The spikelets are unilaterally biseriate on the rachis which is not jointed at the base. There are one or more flowers in the spikelet, all or only the lowest being bisexual. The rachilla is jointed just above the empty glumes and it is produced or not beyond the flowering glumes. The inflorescence consists of spikes, or spiciform racemes, solitary or digitate, and in some it is paniculate.
Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glume.Spikes usually solitary.Spikelets 1- to 2-flowered, pedicelled and in deciduous clusters, awned.33. Gracilea.Spikelets 1- to 2-flowered, not clustered awned.34. Enteropogon.Spikes or spiciform racemes digitate or whorled.Spikelets 1-flowered and with three glumes, awnless.35. Cynodon.Rachilla not produced beyond the flowering glumes.Spikelets 2- or more-flowered, glumes five or more, awned, upper flowers imperfect.36. Chloris.Spikelets 3- to 6-flowered, densely crowded, awnless.37. Eleusine.Spikes or spiciform spikes racemed, spikelets 2- to 3-flowered, 4- to 5-glumed, awned.38. Dinebra.Spikes panicled, filiform, spikelets very minute one-or more-flowered, glumes awnless.39. Leptochloa.
These are tufted, annual or perennial grasses. Spikelets are panicled, 1-flowered, laterally compressed, with the rachilla jointed above the empty glumes, 3-glumed. The first and the second glumes are narrow, keeled, 1-nerved, awned or not and persistent. The third glume is very narrow, cylindric, coriaceous, convolute, acuminate, 3-nerved, tip produced into a long 3-partite, naked or hairy awn twisted below the branches, with a minute palea which is convolute round the ovary. Lodicules are two, linear or oblong-linear and hyaline. Stamens are three. Styles are distinct. Grain is long, narrow and cylindrical.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.