ANDROPOGONE^E 189 



second glume in length, and shorter than the first glume, linear- 

 lanceolate, hyaline, nerveless or sometimes very obscurely 2- 

 nerved. The fourth glume is narrow linear, hyaline with two very 

 fine lobes at the apex with an awn between 7/16 inch long. Palea 

 is hyaline and very small. Stamens are three, ovary with two long 

 reddish feathery stigmas. Lodicules small and cuneate. Grain is 

 long and narrow. 



The pcdiccllcd spikelets have only three glumes, and are slightly 

 shorter than the sessile ones, pedicel is similar to the joint. The 

 first glume is ovate-lanceolate, thinly coriaceous, distinctly many- 

 nerved, acuminate, margins infolded and membranous. The 

 second glume is ovate-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous and 3- 

 nerved. The third glume is short, oblong-lanceolate, nerveless or 

 faintly 2-nerved. There are three stamens. 



This grass is variable in its size. In dry soils such as laterite 

 soils, it is a very small plant not exceeding 9 or 10 inches 

 across its spread. But in good soil and under favourable condi- 

 tions the plant measures across 5 or 6 feet. Cattle eat the 

 grass before it flowers and does not relish it so much when in flower. 



A common grass flourishing all over the Presidency. 



Distribution. — Occurs in drier parts throughout India. 



