2T4 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



30. Iseilema, Hack. 



These grasses are either annual or perennial, with slender freely 

 branching stems. The inflorescence is a panicle consisting of 

 groups of dissimilar spikelets with compressed, boat-shaped spath.es 

 on peduncles. Spikelets are of two kinds, sessile and pedicelled. 

 Each peduncle bears 4-pedicelled male or neuter spikelets in a 

 regular whorl forming an involucel around 1 or 2 sessile bisexual 

 spikelets and 2-or 3-pedicelled male spikelets. Involucral spikelets 

 have 3 or 2 glumes, the first two glumes are somewhat similar, the 

 first 3- to 5-nerved and the second 3-nerved, the third glume is one 

 nerved and hyaline. Lodicules are cuneate and retuse. Anthers 

 yellow dotted or tinged violet. Pedicelled spikelets inside the in- 

 volucral similar to those of the involucral. Sessile spikelets are 

 bisexual or sometimes female, 4-glumed and awned. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Panicle slender, lax ; involucral spikelets 



Yf, inch; pedicel slender, terete ... I. I. laxum. 



Panicle crowded, leafy ; involucral spike- 

 lets % inch or more, very strongly 

 nerved ; pedicel harder, firmer and flat- 

 tened ... ... ... ... ... 2. I. anthephoroi- 



des. 



