1 4 



SOU I H INDIAN GRASSES 



i 6. Coix, Z. 



These are tall monoecious annual or perennial grasses. The 

 inflorescences are terminal or axillary spiciform racemes. The 

 lowest-spikelet in the raceme is female and this is enclosed in 

 a bract which at length becomes hardened, polished and nut-like 

 and the other spikelets above it are male. The male spikelets 

 are 2-to 3-nate at each node of the rachis, I sessile and I or 2 

 pedicelled, lanceolate and 4-glumed. The first and the second 

 glumes are subequal and empty, and the first glume is winged 

 along the inflated margins. The third and the fourth glumes are 

 hyaline, with three stamens or empty- The female spikelet is ovoid 

 acuminate and has four glumes. The first glume is chartaceous 

 and the others are thin and gradually smaller. The grain is 

 orbicular, ventrally furrowed and enclosed by the polished hard 

 bract. 



