i8o 



SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



Manisuris granulans, L.f. 



This is a freely branching annual with stems leafy to the top 

 and varying in length from I to 2% feet. 



The leaf-sheath is inflated, covered with scattered tubercle-based 

 hairs. The ligule is a short membrane with ciliate margin. Nodes 

 are with long hairs. 



The leaf-blade is linear, cordate and amplexicaul at base, acute, 

 fiat, flaccid, with scattered tubercle-based hairs on both the 

 surfaces, 4 to 10 inches by Y\ to Vz inch. 



The spikes are solitary, axillary and terminal and V\ to I inch, 

 the peduncles of the spikes are often confluent in a leafy spathi- 

 form panicle ; the rachis is fragile with short joints deeply excavate 

 on one side. 



Fig. 147. — Manisuris granulans. 



1 and 2. The front and back view of a bit of a spike ; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, 

 second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet ; 7. ovary anthers 

 and lodicules ; 8, 9, 10 and 12. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respect- 

 ively, of the pedicelled spikelet ; 11 and 13. palea of the third and fourth glumes. 



The spikelets are I- to 2-flowered in dissimilar pairs, one 

 globose, sessile and bisexual and the other ovate, pedicelled, 

 neuter ; the pedicel is adnate to the joint of the rachis. 



The sessile spikelet has four glumes. The first glume is hard, 

 globose, foveolate, with an oblong opening, faintly nerved. The 

 second glume is chartaceous, immersed in the cavity of the joint, 

 and filling the opening. The third glume is small hyaline and 

 empty. The fourth glume is hyaline, small and paleate. The grain 

 is subglobose. Lodicules are broadly cuneate. 



The pedicelled spikelets also have four glumes. The first glume 

 is ovate, subchartaceous, winged on one side with a broad hyaline 

 ciliate wing, 5- to 7-veined. The second glume is cymbiform, 

 compressed laterally, with a dorsal hyaline ciliate wing to the 

 keel, 5- to 7-veined. The third glume is hyaline, membranous, 

 oblong, 2-nerved and paleate or not, and with or without stamens. 



