130 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



cuspidately acute, with nine to many green nerves, paleate ; the 

 palea is very small, about 1/20 inch long, oblong, hyaline and rigidly 

 coriaceous. The fourth glume is much narrower and shorter than the 

 third glume, linear oblong, acuminate, chartaceous, smooth, dorsally 

 convex, with incurved margins, bisexual and paleate ; the palea is as 

 long as the glume, acuminate, hyaline, the margins inflexed below 

 the middle, ovate, acute. Lodicules are minute or absent. Stamens 

 are three with linear anthers. Styles are very long with slender 

 stigmas. The grain is oblong, compressed. 



This grass grows abundantly in cultivated dry fields and in the 

 sand near the sea-shore and it is easily recognized by the clusters 

 of spikelets in the spike. 



Distribution. — The Deccan Peninsula both in the interior and 

 on the sea coast. 



