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A NEW GRASS CHLORIS BOURNEI Sp. Nov. 



By K. Eangachariar and C. Tadulingam 

 Agricultural College, Coimbatore 



Chloris Bournei Eangachariar and Tadulingam. (Gramina- 

 ceso — Poaceaa — Chlorideoo) C. barbata Sw. affinis, sed majore spicula 

 glumis cum 3-5 awnibus, et nervis hirsutis, differt. Herba perennis > 

 Culmus crassus, 1-3 pedibus longus. Nodi purpurei. Folia linearia, 

 glabra. Pedunculi ad quindicun digifci alti. Spici crassi, purpurei. 

 Spiculsa 3 m.m. longae. Glumos cum 3 aub 4, saspe 5, awuibus. 

 Awnes 5-7 m.m. longi. Flores feminei saepius cum 2 aut 3 granibus. 

 Nerva tertias glumas apice basim hirsuta. 



Log. Coimbatore, on black cotton soil. Herb. Madras. — 1317, 

 1318, 4443, 5348, 6166, 6569, Coll. K. Eangachariar. 



This grass is perennial. The stems are somewhat stout, tufted, 

 erect or ascending geniculately from a creeping and rooting base 

 varying in length from 1 to 3 feet, with internodes 2 to 6 inches be- 

 coming longer upwards; nodes are thickened, deeply purple-ringed, 

 glabrous and the lower nodes always with a fan-like tuft of flattened 

 leaf-sheaths and leaves. 



Leaf-sheaths are equal to or longer than the internodes at the 

 base, but shorter above, glabrous, compressed, distichous, bearded 

 towards the mouth and with membranous margins. The ligule is a 

 narrow membranous ridge. 



Leaf-blades are liner, finely acuminate, slightly broadened and 

 rounded at the base, keeled, the Upper surface scaberulous and with 

 a few scattered long hairs especially towards the base, smooth or 

 slightly scaberulous below, 1 to 9 inches by 1/12 to 1/4 inch. 



The inflorescence consists of digitately arranged spikes 1 1/2 to 4 

 inches long on a peduncle which is sometimes 15 inches long ; spikes 

 are stout, purple-tinged, 3 to 7 and even 9 in some specimens, shortly 

 stalked, the base of the stalk being slightly swollen and villous at the 

 base ; the rachis is slender, somewhat villous towards the base. 

 Spikelets are about 1/8 inch excluding the awn, very shortly pedicell- 

 ed, biseriate, unilateral, disarticulating above the first two glumes 

 which are persistent, purplish or pale, 1 to 3-flowered, usually 3 to 4- 

 awned and sometimes 5-awued ; awns are purplish 3/16 to 5/16 inch 

 long, finely scabrid. There are 5 to 7 glumes in a spikelet. The first 

 glume is hyaline, purplish or pale, about 1/10 inch long, lanceolate, 

 subacuminate, 1-nerved with a scabrous keel; the second glume is 

 hyaline, about one and a half times as long as the first, oblong 



1990—25 



