ANDROPOGONE^E 143 



17. Polytoca, Br. 



These are tall monoecious annual or perennial grasses. Inflor- 

 escences consist of spiciform racemes with spathaceous bracts ; 

 rachis is jointed. Racemes may all be male or with one or two 

 female spikelets at the base. Male spikelets are geminate, one 

 sessile and one pedicelled, 2-flowered or imperfect, and with four 

 glumes, which are subequal. The first glume is membranous, 

 many-nerved, shallowly concave and with a narrow membranous 

 margin. The second glume is narrower, ovate, acute, 5- to 9-nerved. 

 The third glume is membranous, oblong, acute, 3- to 5-nerved, 

 paleate and with three stamens. The fourth glume is very slender, 

 hyaline, linear, paleate with three stamens or empty. Female 

 spikelets are broadly oblong, i-flowered and with four glumes. 

 The first glume is thick, coriaceous and closely embraces the 

 rachis of the spike by its involute margin and the other glumes are 

 within. The second glume is oblong, many-nerved. The third is 

 narrowly oblong, 3- to 5-nerved, empty. The fourth glume is very 

 narrow, truncate, 3-nerved, paleate. Styles are very long with 

 slender stigmas. Grain is small, fusiform, terete and enclosed in 

 the nut-like polished and hardened first glume. 



