INTRODUCTION 



The leaf-sheath 



narrow membrane with fine hairs on its free margin. This is called 

 the ligule. (See fig. 2.) 



is attached at its base to the node and it is 

 slightly swollen just above the place of inser- 

 tion. It covers the internode, one margin 

 being inside and the other outside. The 

 surface of the sheath is sparsely covered with 

 long hairs springing from small tubercles. 

 The outer margin of the sheath bears fine hairs 

 all along its length. (See fig. 2.) 



The leaf-blade is broadly lanceolate, with 

 a tip finely drawn out. Its base is rounded and 

 the margin wavy, especially so towards the 

 base. On the margin towards the base long 

 hairs are seen, and some of these arise from 

 small tubercles. The margin has a hyaline 

 border which is very minutely serrate. There 

 is a distinct mid-rib and, on holding the leaf 

 against the light, four or five small veins come 

 in to view. In the spaces between these veins 

 lie many fine veins. All the veins run parallel 

 from the base to the apex. At the base of the 

 blade the veins get into the leal-sheath and 

 Pa^cumjavaolcum. therefore the sheath becomes striated. Just 

 A. Full leaf; B. a por- aDove tne ligule and at the base of the leaf- 



tion of the leaf show- blade there is a colourless narrow zone. This 



ing i. the ligule and is called the collar. 



2. the collar. 



As already stated 

 the inflorescences ap- 

 pear at the free ends 

 of branches. Every 

 branch sooner or later 

 terminates in an inflo- 

 rescence which is a 

 compound raceme. 



There are usually five 

 or six racemes in the 

 inflorescence. Each 

 raceme has an axis, 

 called the rachis, which 

 bears unilaterally two 

 rows of bud-like bodies. 

 These bud-like bodies 

 are the units of the 

 inflorescence and they 

 are called spikelcts. 

 (See fig. 3.) 



Fig. 3. — The inflorescence of Panicum 



javanicum. 



I, Inflorescence ; 2 and 3. the front and the back 



•iew of a raceme. 



