139. GRAMINEJE. [^2. Manisuris. 



acuminate. Panicles strict Avith numerous very slender flexuous 

 branches bearing distant narrow spathes, each with 3 or more fas- 

 cicles of spikes, some of the spikes being reduced to their proper 

 spathes with often scales at the bases of the peduncles. Spikes short 

 about -3", proper bract or spathe to each triplet •12--25", mucronate 

 or shortly awned. Barren pedicelled spkt. lateral, often hirsute 

 (var. humulis). Sessile spkt. ; keel of gl. ii flattened above the gib- 

 bosity. Awn of gl. iv very Aveak or 0. 



Chiefly in damp places and under shade. Piirneah common in the Tarai and 

 Duars) ! Behar, llopel Santal Pai-fi., Karz\ Ranchi (on the f^hats), Woodl 

 Sinf^bhum ! Manbhum, Caiiip. ! Fl., Fv. Sept.-Nov. Annual or perennial ? 



B. Sub.-sp. aristata, Had. 



A tall perennial erect grass, often 6-8 ft. high, with a rather stout 

 rootstock and very leafy stems and inflorescences. Cauline leaves 

 distichous up to 18" long, smaller upwards, -3-1" broad, setaceously 

 acuminate, narrowed and sub-petiolate at the base, somewhat scabrid 

 on the edges and sometimes with a few short hairs along the principal 

 nerves. Panicle very leafy much branched with the fascicles close, 

 spathes often with a long acumen or short blade. Spikes attaining 

 •52" in length and curved, twice as long as their proper spathes. 

 Both pedicels often ec[ual and symmetrical, one with one glume, the 

 other with 4 glumes and usually 2 male fls. Gl. ii of sessile spkt., 

 pubescent upwards. Bulbous base of peduncle often -l" long. 



This is var. roxfrata, the extreme form of the subspecies. It is frequent on rocky 

 hills in Gaya ! and Chota Nag-pur and Central Provinces ! 



Var. aristata proper is described as liaviuL;- a ]3roper spathe rather shorter than 

 its spike, sessile spkt. under "1" with a small l)ulbous base. Gl. i glabrous with 

 scabrid nerves, barren spkt. miinite and latei-al. 



It or intermediates are also common in the forests. Gya, Mokim ! Monghyr t 

 Singbhum! Parasnath ! Fl., Fr. Oct.-Dec. 



The grass is quite useless and cattle do not eat it. 



82. MANISURIS, Siv. 



Erect much branched annuals with cordate or subcordate-based 

 leaves and axillary spikes sometimes forming a leafy panicle, rhachis 

 fragile with short internodes deeply excavate, tips 2-pitted. Spikelets- 

 sessile and pedicelled very dissimilar, 1-2-fld. Sessile globose, 2- 

 sexual, gl. 4, i hard orbicular, and only open towards the rhachis by 

 an oblong aperture, enclosing the inner glumes, pitted outside in 

 vertical rows or reticulate ; ii chartaceous, filling the cavity in gl. i ; 

 iii hyaline empty ; iv and its palea hyaline. Callus much swollen. 

 Lodicules 2 broadly cuneate. Anthers minute. Styles free with 

 short stigmas, exserted from the opening in gl. i. Pedicelled spkt. 

 ovate or lanceolar, neuter with pedicel adnate to rhachis. 



1. M. granulans, L. f. 



A very distinct looking grass 6-8" or up to 2 ft. high, very hairy 

 with usually short leaves linear-lanceolate from a subcordate base or 

 sometimes broadly linear and up to 8" by -5", flat, flaccid, acuminate 

 with hirsute inflated sheaths ; ligule a raised ciliate margin. Spikes 

 •25-1", each sheathed at the base, often several from one leaf axil. 

 Sessile globose spkts. subsecund -04" diam. in two rows. Pedicelled 



1057 



