GRAMINEAE 87 
8. P. distichum L. 
Stems creeping and rooting, branched, usually rather stout and somewhat 
compressed, the flowering branches erect, 15 to 50 cm high. Leaves flat 
or involute, 4 to 15 cm long, 5 mm wide or less. Spikes 2, terminal, rather 
stout, 4 to 6 cm long, ascending. Spikelets 2-seriate, about 2.5 mm long. 
In low wet grass lands near the sea and tidal streams, fl. Aug.-Nov.; 
widely distributed in the Philippines near the seashore. All warm countries. 
4. P. CONJUGATUM Berg. 
A gregarious, nearly glabrous grass, the stems spreading and branching 
below, the flowering branches 20 to 70 em high. Leaves narrowly lanceo- 
late, flat, thin, 8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 15 mm wide. Spikes, 2, terminal, 
slender, 6 to 12 cm long, the peduncles slender. Spikelets imbricate, 1.2 
to 1.4 mm long, pale-green, plano-convex, the empty glumes with long, soft, 
white marginal hairs. 
In waste places, especially in the shade, very common, flowering all the 
year; throughout the Philippines, introduced. A native of tropical America, 
now found in most tropical countries. 
In addition to the above species, Paspalum dilatatum Poir., an American 
species, has been cultivated by the Bureau of Agriculture in Singalon. 
21. DIGITARIA Scopoli 
Annual, mostly ascending or erect, slender grasses, the inflorescence com- | 
posed of spike-like racemes which are in whorls or somewhat scattered or 
crowded at the apices of the stems. Leaves flat. Spikelets narrow, in 
pairs or in threes on one side of the flattened rachis, one spikelet of each 
pair generally longer-pedicelled than the other. Glumes 3 or 4, the 2 or 
3 outer ones thin, the first sometimes wanting, the fourth or flowering 
glume glabrous and shining, at length hardened, enclosing a palea, of similar 
texture, and a perfect flower. (Latin “finger” in allusion to the digitate 
inflorescence. ) 
A genus of considerable size in all tropical and temperate regions, 
reduced by some botanist to Panicum and others to Paspalum, about 7 
species in the Philippines. 
‘ 
1. Spikelets about 3 mm long. 
2. Marginal nerves of the second glume densely villous-ciliate with spread- 
Ta Es ae Lee Re hot Tae OE ME RE SE IGT SLES 1. D. ciliaris 
2. Glumes not ciliate. 
3. Spikes digitate or in pairs at the apex of the stem.... 2. D. sanguinalis 
3. Spikes somewhat scattered along the rachis; sheaths hirsute. 
3. D. consanguinea 
1. Spikelets about 1.5 mm long. 
2. Spikes digitate or approximate at the apex of the stem. 
3. Spikes usually 2 or 3, less than 5 cm long; stems short, erect from 
& prostrate erecnimie Paseo i 4. D. longiflora 
3. Spikes more numerous, 10 or less, frequently 10 cm long; stems 
elongated, erect, base scarcely prostrate................ 5. D. violascens 
2. Spikes alternate, scattered on the somewhat elongated rachis. 
6. D. pedicellaris 
1. D. cILIARIS (Retz.) Pers. Halos (Tag.). 
A rather slender, erect or suberect, branched grass 1 m high or less, 
the basal parts of the stem more or less decumbent. Leaves narrowly 
