p.. J. D, GRAHAM 221 



green leaf sheath have been found to have coloured sickles, e.g., 

 Parewa (Raipur). 



Peduncle. — The peduncle in the rice is variable in length and 

 may either be exserted from the last leaf (flag) or enclosed by it. In 

 classifying rices, a peduncle is said to be ' enclosed ' when the lowest 

 branch of the inflorescence is within the leaf sheath, and 'exserted' 

 when the lowest branch, easily recognised by its complete ridge of 

 cihate hairs, encircling the stem below the branch, is free from, 

 that is visible above, the leaf sheath. The length to which the ped- 

 uncle is exserted varies. Those with a peduncle more than half 

 the length of the inflorescence have been described as 'far exserted,' 

 those with a short peduncle simply as 'exserted.' 



Infloresceiice. — The panicle consists of a main rachis bearing 

 primary and secondary branches. The rachis may be in one of three 

 positions. It may be erect, curved or drooping. The last term 

 is applied to a rachis which bends in a sharp curve. 



Branches. — The branches of the inflorescence are all of the 

 first and second order. The primary branches may either be ap- 

 proximate or separate. Further the primary branches, like the rachis, 

 may be either erect, curved or drooping. In certain rices, branches 

 of both kinds occur. In this case the lower branches are erect and 

 the higher branches drooping. Taking the three types of rachis 

 and the three types of branching, the following combinations occur. 

 The rachis may be erect with approximate, that is, erect, branches — 

 when the inflorescence is described as "erect." Secondly, the rachis 

 may be curved more or less in a semi-circle with approximate 

 branches — ^w^hen the term '■ curved " is used, or the branches may 

 be separated and themselves curved or drooping when the 

 inflorescence has a feathery appearance. Lastly, the rachis may be 

 "drooping" with approximate branches, when the inflorescence is 

 drooping, or with separate branches when the inflorescence has 

 again a feathery appearance. 



Gammie (14) makes use of the average number of primary 

 branches in order to distinguish the rices of the Bombay Presidency. 

 It is not possible to use this as a diagnostic character in the Central 



