139. GRAMINE.E. [33. Oryza. 



31. TRAGUS, Hallier. 



A low rather rigid grass with short flat leaves. Spikelets sub- 

 articulate or not articulate on their pedicels, 1-fld., and geminate 

 (appearing like a single 2-fld. spikelet) or 3-5-nate on the very 

 short branches of a narrow spike. Glumes i and ii absent ; iii thickly 

 coriaceous, lanceolate cuspidate, 5-ribbed with a row of spines on each^ 

 rib ; iv embraced by iii, chartaceous, lanceolate, flat, 1 -nerved with 

 a membranous obtuse involute nerveless (or faintly 2-nerved below) 

 palea. Stamens 3, anthers long-linear. Styles short distant. Grain 

 free within the glumes, linear. 



1. T. racemosus, Scoj). 



Stems 4-8" high, leafy and with many spreading and flowering 

 branches from the base (fro^m stolons after the first year, J.D.H.). 

 Leaves -5-1 -5", ovate to linear with margins and mouth of sheath 

 setose, surface often scabrid. Spike 1-4" at the end of every branch,, 

 rhachis pubescent. Spikelets crowded, mostly geminate face to face,, 

 sessile on their common pedicel, -l--!?" long. 



Singbhum, on high ground! Manbhum, Gage (Raniganj, close to Manbhum) I 

 Fl., Fr. Aug. 



A very easily recognised grass from the curious paired densely muricate or 

 spinose spikelets. 



32. ZOYSIA, Willd. 



A small much branched rigid glabrous grass with subulate pungent 

 leaves. Spikelets small ovoid or lanceolate subimbricate sessile or 

 shortly pedicelled and appressed to a rigid notched inarticulate 

 rhachis. Spkts. articulate at their base. Glumes 2, i absent ; ii 

 empty, coriaceous, laterally compressed, shining and nerveless with 

 hyaline margins connate below ; iii much smaller, membranous, 

 linear-oblong, obtuse, complicate, palea short, hyaline or 0. Lodicules 



0. Stamens 3, anthers long. Styles very long, distinct with long 

 stigmas. Grain free within the glumes. 



1. Z. pungens, Willd. 



A small stiff wiry grass. Stems creeping and rooting, with many 

 upright or ascending branches 3-8" high with squarrose short subu- 

 lately folded and sharply pointed leaves -2-1" long. Spikes -S--?"* 

 ■with sinuous rhachis, bearing in the sinuses narrow brown polished 

 lanceoiar-linear spikelets •1--12" long with compressed tips. Pedicels 

 very short clavate or 0. 



From Mutlah (near Calcutta), Kew Herb. ! to Ganjam, Fi»cher\ along the sandy 

 shores. No doubt therefore on the Oi'issa Coast. Fl. April, Aug. 



33. ORYZA, L. Rice. 

 Grasses with long flat leaves and spikelets articulate on the slender 

 branches of an elongate rarely spiciform panicle, oblong, laterally 

 compressed, 1-fld. Pedicels annular at tip. Glumes 2-3, i and ii 

 much the smallest, empty, scale- or bristle-like, rarely ; iii char- 

 taceous or coriaceous, obtuse acute or awned, strongly 3-5- or obscurely 



63 979 



