152 



SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



densely or sparsely hairy at the base. The first glume is scimitar- 

 shaped, coriaceous, acute, with a somewhat semi-circular wing. The 

 other glumes are as in sessile spikelets, but the fourth glume has no 

 awn and may have a mucro. 



This grass is a variable one. There is much variation in the 

 breadth of the leaves and in the markings and hairiness of the 

 spikelets. The spikelets may be glabrous or hairy and the marking 

 in the first glume of the sesssile spikelets varies in the matter of 

 marginal nodules — it may have mere shallow notches or deep well- 

 formed nodules and there may be transverse ridges or they may be 

 absent. This grass is abundant on the West Coast and rare in the 

 East Coast. 



Distribution. — Throughout the plains and lower hills of India 

 and Ceylon. 



FlG 131.— tscha?mum aristatum. 



A. A portion of the raceme showing the joints; B. a sessile and a pedicelled 

 spikelet. I, 2, 3 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively ; 4 ami 

 5. palea of the third and the fourth glume ; 7. ovary and ludicules ; i>. hrsi glume 

 of the pedicelled spikelets. 



