86 



SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



Pai*icum javanicum, Poir. 



This is an annual and it branches freely and the branches are 

 decumbent and rooting at the nodes at the base, and erect to some 

 extent at the free end, I to 2 feet long ; the internodes are glabrous, 

 thinly striate, shallowly channelled on one side. 



The leaf-sheath is somewhat compressed and loose, covered with 

 scattered long hairs, some of them being tubercle-based ; the 

 margin is ciliate on one side only. The nodes are pubescent with 

 long hairs. The ligule is a distinct fringe of hairs. 



The leaf-blade is broadly lanceolate, cordate at base, amplexi- 

 caul, acuminate or acute, with scattered long hairs both above and 

 below, and some of the hairs of the under surface are tubercle- 

 based, convolute when young ; margin of the leaf is wavy, minutely 

 serrate, and ciliated with distant hairs towards the lower half of 

 the leaf when young ; the midrib is prominent below. 



Fig. 94. — Panicum javanicum. 

 1 and 2. Front and back view of a spike ; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and 

 the fourth glume, respectively ; 5a and 6a. the palea of third and fourth giumes ; 7. the 

 ovary and the stamens. 



The inflorescence is a panicle of spikes on a short or long erect 

 slender peduncle- Spikes vary from two to ten in number and in 

 length from % to 2 inches, distant and spreading ; the rachis of the 

 spike is zigzag, somewhat flattened with a wavy ridge, scaberulous 

 or glabrous, swollen towards the base and the swollen part is 

 pubescent. 



The spikelets are biseriate, loosely imbricate, ovate, acute, 

 pubescent or villous (sometimes quite glabrous), sessile or shortly 

 pedicelled; the pedicels have one or two (rarely more) long hairs. 



There are four glumes. The first glume is small, membranous, 

 less than l / 2 of the third glume, ovate, acute or obtuse, 3- to 5-nerved. 

 The second glume is nearly equal to the third, ovate acute, generally 

 7-nerved and sometimes 7- to 13-nerved. The third glume is similar 

 to the second in shape, generally 5-nerved and occasionally 



