PANICE^E 



III 



Setaria intermedia, R & S. 



This is an annual with straggling, slender, erect or ascending 

 stems, 2 to 3 feet long. 



The leaf-sheath is glabrous, keeled, with the margins ciliate with 

 long hairs. The ligule is a fringe of close set long hairs. The 

 nodes are glabrous and the lower rooting. 



The leaf-blade is linear-lanceolate, narrowed towards the base, 

 finely acuminate, with fine hairs scattered on both the surfaces 

 and with numerous long hairs at the mouth and with very finely 

 serrate margins, varying in length from 2 to 8 inches or more, % to 

 Y\ inch in breadth. 



The inflorescence is a narrowly pyramidal spike-like panicle, 4 to 

 6 inches long, the main rachis is glabrous and grooved, branches 

 are short, crowded above, scattered and distant below, with close 

 and densely set spikelets ; the bristles of involucels are % inch long, 

 slender, flexuous with erect barbs varying in number from three 

 to six. 



The spikelets are ovoid. 



There are four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is orbi- 

 cular, oblong or ovate, about one-third the length of the third glume, 



Fig. 1 10. — Setaria intermedia- 

 1. A branch with spikelets ; 2 and ia. spikelets; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and the 

 third glume, respectively ; 50. the palea of the third glume ; 6. the fourth glume: 6a. 

 the fourth glume and its palea ; fib. palea of tne fourth glume ; 7. ovary, anthers and 

 lodicules. 



hyaline, 3-nerved. The second glume is half as long as the third, 

 broadly ovate, hyaline, 5-nerved. The third glume is as long as the 

 fourth, broadly ovate, thinly membra nous, 5-nerved. paleate, empty. 

 The fourth glume is broadly ovate, or suborbicular, very concave, 

 coriaceous, transversely rugulose, yellowish brown. Anthers are 

 orange or yellow and styles purplish. Lodicules are very small. 



Fairly common in rich soils in sheltered places. Cattle are 

 very fond of this grass as the leaves are flaccid and tender. 



Distribution. — Probably all over India. 



