198 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



with an awn 2 to 3 inches long; awn is hispid below, twisted and 

 geniculate at and less hairy above the middle. Stamens are three. 

 Styles are two and feathery. Lodicules are very small. 



Pedicelled spikelcts are male or neuter, flattened, hairy, rarely 

 glabrous. The pedicels are half as long or slightly longer than the 

 sessile spikelet, truncate or semi-circular at the top, and with brown 

 villous hairs along the margin. There are four glumes. The first 

 glume is about % inch, ciliate, along the inflexed margin, 7-nerved, 

 awned ; awn equal to or longer than the glume. The second glume 

 is as long as the first, shortly awned or acuminate, 3-nerved, ciliate. 

 The third glume is hyaline, oblong, 2-nerved, sparsely ciliate. The 

 fourth glume is narrow, ciliate, nerveless or rarely I-nerved, erose 

 or bifid at the top. Anthers three or more. 



This grass grows on the plains as well as on the hills. It is 

 very closely allied to Andropogon asper, Heyne, and it is very 

 difficult to distinguish them. Andropogon Wightianus is some- 

 what smaller compared with Andropogon asper, and the tubercle- 

 based bristles on the leaf-sheaths, so characteristic of A asper, is 

 absent. 



Distribution. — Madras, Chingleput district, Kodaikanal and 

 the Nilgiris. 



