2}0 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



32. Sporobolus, Br. 



These 'are perennial or annual grasses with varied habit. 

 Inflorescence is an open or contracted or spiciform panicle. Spike- 

 lets are small consisting of three membranous glumes, i-nerved or 

 nerveless. The first and the second glumes are unequal, persistent 

 or separately caducous. The third glume is ovate or oblong, acute 

 or obtuse, longer or shorter than the second, I-nerved, paleaie ; 

 palea is as long as the glume and of the same texture of the glume 

 dorsally narrowly inflexed along the middle line and splitting 

 into two halves. Lodicules are very minute or absent. Stamens 

 one to three. Styles are with short stigmas. Grain oblong, obo- 

 void or round. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Glumes I and II both shorter than III. 



Panicle rather narrow with shorty 



capillary branches; glumes I> I. S. diander. 

 and II nerveless. J 



Glume I shorter than II and III and II nearly or quite as long as 

 III. 



Panicle contracted, narrow \ 



and spiciform; glume I I- V 2. S. tremulus. 

 nerved. J 



Panicle open and effuse. 

 Branches with spikelets and I S . coromandelianus. 



pedicels appressed. J 



Panicle short; leaves glab- 1 



rous. 

 Branches with pedicel and \ 4. S. commutatus. 

 spikelets drooping and | 

 not appressed. 

 Panicle large; leaves with) S . scabrifolius. 

 long hairs. J 



