49. Brachiaria.] 139. GRAMINEM. 



scattered, solitary or in distant pairs on the lax racemes and some- 

 times racemes with a short branch below, suberect, the whole approach- 

 ing in habit a true panicle ; main rhachis and rhachides of racemes 

 3-quetrous with scaberulous margins. Gl. i adaxial, orbicular, 

 •04 — 05" ; ii ovate apiculate ; iii equals ii, acute or subapiculate, 

 5-nerved ; iv apiculate or mucronulate, elliptic, minutely somewhat 

 transversely rugulose ! 



Orissa, Wahh ! 



This comes very close in the character of its inflorescence to B. regnlari?, Sfapf. 

 The inflorescence is much more irregular than most of the genus, but many speci- 

 mens of ramosa show a similar lax tendencj- in parts of their inflorescence and the 

 species is scarcely separable from narrow-leaved specimens of the latter or from 

 Kurzii. Dr. Stupf th.i\\\i& it is better kept distinct, 



50. ERIOCHLOA, H. B. 4' K. 



Annual or perennial with flat lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate leaves. 

 Splits, secund on the spiciform branches of a raceme or panicle, 

 more or less dorsally compressed, lower glume rudimentary forming 

 with the foot of the rhachilla a swollen annular callus at the base of 

 the spkt. which is articulate on the thickened top of the short pedicel. 

 Rhachis of spike 3-quetrous. Gl. ii and iii subequal, membranous ; 

 iv shorter hardened and mucronate in fruit. The rest as in Digitaria. 



1. E. ramosa, O. Kuntz. Syn. E. polystachya, H. B. <b K. 



A slender erect or ascending grass 1-5 ft. high. Leaves 3-10" by 

 •11—4" linear, acuminate. Spkts. very pale -12" long, broadly 

 lanceolar or ovoid subcuspidate or very acute close erect in very 

 numerous erect or erecto-patent peduncled spikes 2-4" long, forming 

 a narrow secund compound panicle up to 8", silky or villous rarely 

 glabrous. 



Pvirneah, Kin-zl Santal Parg., Kurz \ Mongh3'r, Cal . Herb. I Patna, Ham. 

 (Wall. No. 8750./', '' Milium Car ar")\ Shahabad, J^.D.-H". ! Manbhum (Raniganj 

 and Burdwan), iVHSf/i-er ! Orissa, Tr«?!f/t ! Fl., Fr. Aug.-Nov, 



Stems and leaves glabrous or hairy. Ligule vei-y short. Panicle in some Behar 

 plants only 1-2" with spikes only -5". Rhachides 3-gonous, sometimes nearly 

 glabrous. Gls. ii and iii 3-5-nerved ; iv with short awn or cusp 2 mm. long, casp 

 "3 mm. The callus forms a distinct thickened node at the top of the •02-04"long 

 puberulous pedicel. 



51. DIGITARIA, Rich. 



Annual or perennial with linear or lanceolate leaves. Spikelets 

 usually 2-3-nate, Jointed on the pedicel in digitate or racemose spikes, 

 with a 3-quetrous or flat (winged) rhachis. Glumes 4-3, rarely i 

 quite absent, but usually very small hyaline and not embracing the 

 next ; ii membranous 1-5-nerved or nerveless ; iii usually larger 

 5-7 -nerved, the nerves close parallel straight and prominent ; iv 

 subequal chartaceous or coriaceous usually 3-nerved with a similar 

 subequal 2-nerved palea. Lodicules 2 minute, broadly cuneate. St. 3. 

 Styles distinct, stigmas plumose laterally exserted near the apex of 

 floret. Grain oblong, slightly dorsally compressed, enclosed in the 

 hardened glume and pale, which are generally striolate with longi- 

 tudinal lines of microscopic dots. 



1006 



