154 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



The third glume is ovate-lanceolate, hyaline, acuminate I- to 3- 

 veined, male or empty, with a narrow hyaline palea. The fourth 

 glume is shorter than the third, deeply cleft into two lanceolate 

 acute lobes, 3-veined at the base; awn up to about % inch long; 

 palea is linear lanceolate. Stamens are three and lodicules are 

 small and cuneate. 



The pedicelled spikelet is very variable. It is shorter than the 

 sessile, with obscure transverse ridges and may consist of four 

 glumes, but without an awn to the fourth glume; sometimes this 

 spikelet is reduced to a single glume. 



The grain is broadly oblong, brownish and compressed. 



Distribution. — Throughout India and Ceylon. 



