139. GILUIINE.^. [47. Paspalum. 



nerves more distant, subequal with iv, palea if present, slightly shorter 

 with conspicuous inflexed flaps on the lower margins ; iv dorsally 

 convex, oblong to ellip., muticous or minutely apiculate, crustaceous 

 with firm involute margins ; palea tightly embraced by glume all 

 along the margin, crustaceous ; Iodic, small ; styles distinct. Grain 

 tightly enclosed in the gl. and palea. 



A. Leaves mostly obtuse or acuminate from tlie iiirolling of the 



margins : — 

 Lower spikes shorter than internodes. Spkts. "OS-'OG" . . \. flaviditu). 



B. Leaves acuminate : — 



Lower spikes as long as or exceeding the internodes. Spkts, 



•1-*12". Gl. ii about 2 iv . 2. punctatum. 



Lower spikes as long or shorter than internodes, upper crowded. 



Spkts. "08". Gl. ii mostly equals iv d. geminafam, 



1. P. flavidum, Stapf. Syn. Panicum flavidum, Retz. 



A grass of very varying size with usuallj^ several decumbent and 

 ascending stems from a few inches long to 3 ft., small forms csespitose. 

 Leaf sheaths inflated compressed, leaves sub-bifarious linear obtuse 

 or suddenly acute (sometimes described as acuminate but rarely 

 somewhat acuminate or onh' acuminate ^A"hen the edges become 

 inrolled). Spikelets ovoid •08--09" long subdistichously secund on 

 the flattened rhachides of Yery short spikes which are racemosely 

 arranged on the long or short rhachis of a simple panicle and are much 

 shorter than its internodes. In verj- small specimens there may 

 only be a single terminal spike, in large ones up to 9 or 10 spikes on a 

 rhachis attaining 15". Spkts. verj^ pale, glabrous awnless. Gl. i 

 •04--05" long suborbicular. 



A very common grass on moist or wet ground. Santal Parganas, Kiirz, etc. ! 

 Throughout Uhota Nagpur, all districts ! Kliurda (Puri), Wahhl Very common 

 in Bengal and no doubt in Purueah, if not throughout the province in the rainy 

 season. Fr. r.s.-Oct. Annual? 



Depauperated states are only 2-3" with leaves "o-l", large states have leaves 

 10" by ••A" glabrous, or margins scabrid. Rhachis of spikes up to O^" broad, 

 scabrid on edges. Spkts. ses.sile. Gl. ii = Jths iv, 7-nerved; iii shorter than iv. 

 convex, sub-orbicular, oiften shortly cuspidate, o-nerved ; iv more minutely 

 punctulate than h\ ptinctatum but similar. 



2. P. punctatum, Stapf. Syn. Panicum punctatum, Burm. 



A very similar grass to P. flavidum. Stems 1-3 ft. long with often 

 black nodes (as also occurs in flavidum) but leaves always acuminate 

 rarely over -2" broad. Inflorescence similar but internodes of panicle 

 shorter and the spikes sometimes as long or longer than the internodes, 

 •5-1-3" long by -1" wide the rhachis more 3-quetrous Avith 2-seriate 

 depressions in which the spkts. lie, often produced with a few imperfect 

 spkts. toAvards tip. Spkts. elliptic very acute •12.- long (-OS-'l" long, 

 J.D.H.). Gl. i -03" long, truncate, broader than long ; ii thin 

 obovate -06", 3-nerved ; iii elliptic as long as spkt. with inflexed edges 

 and depressed 3-nerved back ; iv as long as iii, shortly cuspidate 

 minutely striolate Avith roAAS of microscopic dots. 



Also in wet places (with lower parts sometimes floating) and perhaps as common 

 as the last. Monghyr, il/oA-m ; Gya,, Jlokim ; Santal Parg., iY/^sAre/-; Chota Nagpur, 

 Wood, Campbell, etc.; FL, Fr. Se'pt.-Nov. Perennial, 



The spongy stems Avith their sheaths attain -'.i" diam. in the larger plants and 



1001 



