!64 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



22. Apocopis, Nees. 



These are annual or perennial grasses with slender stems. The 

 spikes are compressed, 2- to 3-nate, or solitary at the ends of slender 

 branches, with a rachis not jointed ; joints are short, slender and 

 villous. Spikelets are closely imbricating in two series, sessile, 

 solitary, the upper reduced to a small pedicel I- to 2-flowered, 

 the lowest few on the spike, imperfect, male or neuter. There are 

 four glumes. The first glume is large, broadly obovate or obcordate, 

 cuneate. villous with brown hairs, 7- to 9-nerved. The second 

 glume is as long as the first, but narrower, thinner, oblong to ovate, 

 spikelet truncate and 3-nerved. The third glume is hyaline, 

 narrow, paleate, male or empty. The fourth glume is hyaline, 

 linear, entire or 2-fid, awned, bisexual with a very short palea. 

 Lodicules are absent. Stamens are two or three with linear 

 anthers. Styles are short and stigmas slender and exserted. The 

 ^rain is small, oblong and narrow. 



