220 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



CHAPTER IX. 



Scries II Poaceae. 

 TRIBES V AND VI— AGROSTIDE/E AND CHLORIDES. 



The tribe Agrostideae is a very small one- It is represented in 

 South India only by a few genera. The spikelets are usually I- 

 flowered and the rachilla is jointed at the base just above the empty 

 glumes and it is not produced beyond the flowering glume. There 

 are only three glumes in the spikelet. 



Sub. Tribe I. Stipeae. — The spikelets are narrow and long, 

 panicles and the flowering glumes are rigid or hard, and awned. 



The third glume is narrow, long, awn 3-fid ... 31. Aristida. 



Sub. Tribe 2. Euagrosteae.— The spikelets are very small, in 

 open or contracted panicles. 



The third glume is thin and membranous, awnless. 32. Sporo- 



bolus. 



Chlorideae is also a small tribe with about ten genera, most of 

 them being very common in Southern India. The spikelets are 

 unilaterally biseriate on the rachis which is not jointed at the 

 base. There are one or more flowers in the spikelet, all or only the 

 lowest being bisexual. The rachilla is jointed just above the 

 empty glumes and it is produced or not beyond the flowering 

 ylumes. The inflorescence consists of spikes, or spiciform racemes, 

 solitary or digitate, and in some it is paniculate. 



Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glume. 



Spikes usually solitary. 



Spikelets I- to 2-flowered, pedicelled and I Gracilea 



in deciduous clusters, awned. I 



Spikelets I- to 2-flowered, not clustered) ^ Enteropogon. 



awned. J 



Spikes or spiciform racemes digitate or whorled. 



Spikelets I-flowered and with three) 35 Cynodon. 



glumes, awnless. J 



Rachilla not produced beyond the flowering glumes. 

 Spikelets 2- or more-flowered, glumes) 



five or more, awned, upper flowers > 36. Chloris. 



imperfect. * 



Spikelets 3- to 6-flowered, densely crow- ^ Eleusine. 



ded, awnless. 

 Spikes or spiciform spikes racemed,) 



spikelets 2-to3-flowered, 4- to 5-glumed, > 38. Dmebra. 



awned. J 



Spikes panicled, filiform, spikelets very) 



minute one- or more-flowered, glumes > 39- Leptochloa. 

 awnless. ' 



