ZOYSIE/E 



1 37 



Perotis latifolia, Ait. 



This grass is an annual with slender leafy stems, branching at 

 the base, prostrate at first and then geniculately ascending, termi- 

 nating in inflorescences and varying in length from 3 to 15 

 inches. 



The leaf-sheaths are glabrous, usually all short except the one 

 next to the inflorescence which is two or three times as long as 

 the lower sheaths. The nodes are purple and glabrous. 



The leaf-blade is short, I to lf4 inches long, ovate or lanceolate, 

 cordate at base, acute and glabrous on both the surfaces ; the 

 margin is minutely serrate, rigidly ciliate and with a very narrow 

 hyaline border. 



The inflorescence is a slender, crinite, spike-like raceme, I to 8 

 inches long, with a finely scabrid main rachis. 



The spikelets are narrow linear 1/12 to *A inch or longer, purple, 

 shortly pedicelled and i-flowered, pedicels "are short with a 

 hyaline swelling on the upper side at the base. 



Fig. 125. — Perotis latifolia. 



I and 2. Spikelets : 3, 4 and 5 the first, second and the third glume, respectively 

 6. ovary, stamens and lodicules. 



There are three glumes. The first and the second glumes are 

 empty, narrow-linear, purple, scabrid, I-nerved and awned ; awns 

 are capillary, varying in length from y$ to Y 2 inch. The third 

 glume is very minute with very small palea. There are three 

 stamens and two small lodicules- Styles are somewhat shorter. 

 The grain is long and cylindric. 



This grass grows in open waste places and in dry fields all over 

 the Presidency. 



Distribution. — Throughout India. 



