panice^; 



53 



Digitaria sanguinalis, Scop. 



Var. ciliaris. 



This is an annual grass either with erect tall stems or long 

 prostrate stems, varying in length from I to 3 feet or more. 



The leaf-sheath is herbaceous, loose and glabrous. The ligule 

 is a distinct membrane. The nodes are glabrous. 



The leaf-blade is linear-lanceolate or linear, fiat, glabrous or 

 very sparsely hairy, varying in length from 2 to 5 or 6 inches and 

 in breadth from Yb to Y?> inch. 



The spikes are usually few, 2 to 6, 3 to 6 inches long, with a 

 triquetrous, narrowly winged rachis. 



The spikelets are oblong, acute, binate, one pedicel being shorter 

 than the other, usually appressed to the rachis and not spreading. 



Fig. 72. — Digitaria sanguinalis. Var. ciliaris. 



I. A portion of the spike showing the binate spikelets; 2. a spikelet ; 3. the minute 

 .le-like first glume ; 4, 5 and 6 fl 

 7. the palea of the fourth glume. 



1. j\ poruoii 01 luc spine suowmg uie uinaie spiKeieis; 2. a spi 

 scale-like first glume ; 4, 5 and 6. the second, third and the fourth glumei respectively ; 



There are four glumes including the minute glume. The first 

 glume is a very minute scale. The seeond glume is about half as 

 long as the third glume, membranous, usually 3-nerved and some- 

 times 3- to 5-nerved, distinctly ciliate. The third glume is oblong- 

 lanceolate, acute, membranous, 3- to 5-nerved, sparingly hairy in 

 the lower spikelet and densely bearded with soft spreading hairs 

 in the upper spikelet. The fourth glume is lanceolate, or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acute, somewhat chartaceous, paleate ; palea is like the 

 glume in texture. Anthers are pale yellow. Stigmas are white. 

 There are two small cuneate lodicules. 



This is an excellent fodder grass. It grows well in all kinds of 

 soils, rich or poor, and is very common in dry fields brought under 

 cultivation. 



Distribution. — Throughout India. 



