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