330 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. CllloHs. 



Grows in large tufts on pasture ground, &c. very common 

 every where. 



Culms, below creeping - , and ramous, the joints perfectly 

 smooth. Leaves near the base bifarious ; margins near the 

 base and mouths of the sheaths ciliate. Spikes terminal, from 

 six to twelve, sessile, secund, expanding-, from one to two 

 inches long. Rachis striated, not hairy, nor jointed. Flowers 

 pedicelled, alternate, in two rows on the outside of the spikes. 

 Calyx two-flowered, two-valved, membranaceous and awn- 

 less. The lower flower is sessile and hermaphrodite, its co- 

 rol consists of two unequal ciliate valves, the base of which 

 is surrounded with hairs, the exterior one ending in a long, 

 coloured awn. The other floret I have always found neuter ; 

 it stands on a short pedicel and consists of two obcordate, 

 awned valvelets ; awn and margin of the valvelets coloured. 



Obs. Cattle eat it till in flower ; after which I never saw 

 any animal touch it. 



4. C. polystachya. R. 



Spikes from ten to twenty, fascicled. Exterior glume of 

 the hermaphrodite flower with ciliate margins ; neuter florets 

 two, with single smooth valves. 



A native of the Peninsula of India. 



Culms below procumbent for a little way, then erect, and 

 about two feet high. Leaves as in other grasses, and smooth. 

 Spikes about sixteen, in a terminal, sub-fastigiate umbelli- 

 form fascicle, secund with the alternate spikelets, or flowers 

 pointing to opposite sides, from two to three inches long. 

 Calyx of two, unequal, lanceolate, boat-shaped, smooth, per- 

 manent awnless valves, which contain one two-valved, her- 

 maphrodite, awned flower; and two peduncled, one-valved, 

 awned, neuter florets. The exterior valvelet of the herma- 

 phrodite flower has its margins ciliate. 



