92 A FLORA OF MANILA ‘ 
7. P. auritum Presl. 
A coarse, erect, perennial grass 1 to 2 m high, the stems simple or 
slightly branched, usually about 5 mm thick, sometimes rooting at the 
lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, 10 to 25 cm long, 0.7 to 2.5 cm 
wide, base broad, cordate or auriculate. Panicles 15 to 40 cm long, diffuse 
or contracted, according to’the stage of development, the spike-like branches 
numerous, solitary or fascicled, 5 to 10 cm long, ascending or spreading, 
densely flowered. Spikelets very numerous, green or purplish, re 
ovate, acute or slightly acuminate, 2.5 mm long. 
Common in low, wet lands, fl. more or less throughout the year, but 
especially in the rainy season; widely distributed in the Philippines at 
low altitudes. India to China and Malaya. 
8. P. amplexicaule Rudge. 
A rather coarse, erect, aquatic or subaquatic grass 1 m high or less, 
the stems stout, usually decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves 
flat, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 15 to 25 em long, 0.8 em wide. Spikelets 
very numerous, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, about 5 mm long, crowded 
in dense, cylindric, continuous or somewhat interrupted spike-like pani- 
cles 15 to 20 em long, 1 to 1.5 em in diameter. 
In shallow water, margins of the Pasig River, in esteros, etc., but not 
abundant, fl. all the year; apparently quite widely distributed in the 
Philippines at low altitudes. Tropics generally. — 
9. P. indicum L. . 
A slender, erect, annual grass a few cm to about 1 m in height. 
Leaves linear-lanceolate or linear, acuminate, 5 to 15 em long, 3 to 7 mm 
wide. Inflorescence a dense, cylindric or oblong, spiciform panicle, 1 to 10 
em long, about 5 mm in diameter. Spikelets green or purplish, oblong, 
straight or somewhat curved, about 2.5 mm long. 
In open, usually damp grass lands, common, fil. more or less throughout 
the year; throughout the Philippines. Tropical Asia and Africa through 
Malaya to Australia. 
10. P. CAUDIGLUME Hack. 
A loosely tufted, somewhat hairy, erect or ascending annual grass, 
reaching a height of about 1 m. Leaves flat, lanceolate, hairy, 5 to 
20 cm long. Panicles open, diffuse, very lax, decompound, 20 to 40 cm 
long, the branches capillary. Spikelets long-pedicelled, arranged toward 
the ends of the ultimate branchlets, purplish, ovate-lanceolate, 3 to 3.5 
mm long, the first glume the longest, long-caudate-acuminate, the second 
and third glumes shorter, acute, of about equal length, the flowering 
glume oblong-elliptic, 1.5 mm long, shining. 
In dry, well drained, fallow lands, near San Felipe Neri, fl. Nov.—Feb.; 
of local occurrence in Luzon and Palawan, certainly introduced. Java. 
11. P. nodosum Kunth. 
A rather weak grass with elongated, slender, prostrate stems, and erect 
or ascending branches 20 to 40 cm long. Leaves thin, lanceolate, acuminate, 
5 to 8 cm long, 5 to 8 mm wide. Panicles weak, somewhat exserted, 10 cm 
long or less, usually with from 2 to 4, solitary, ascending or spreading 
branches, the lowest one 5 to 7 cm long. Spikelets green or purplish, 
rather few, oblong, about 3 mm. long. 
In thickets, Pasay, Masambong, etc., fl. June—Oct.; widely distributed 
in the Philippines at low altitudes. Tropical Asia and Malaya. 
