AGROSTIDE/E 230. 



little shorter than the second, ovate-lanceolate, acute, i-nerved 

 paleate ; palca is equal to the third glume, 2-nerved splitting into 

 two halves between the nerves. Anthers are three and purple in 

 colour. Stigmas are white and feathery. Grain as in S. coro- 

 mandelianus. 



In Flora of British Indi a, this plant is included under Sporobolus 

 coromandelianus. These two plants (5. coromandelianus and S. 

 commutatus) are quite distinct and grow side by side. As the 

 differences are not easily seen in herbarium specimens the two 

 plants are put together under the one species S. coromandelianus. 

 The branches are tufted and are usually decumbent at base, leaves 

 quite green and somewhat broad in 5. coromandelianus; and in S. 

 commutatus, branches are usually not decumbent at base, generally 

 erect from the base and leaves are green glaucous and somewhat 

 narrow. The most striking difference, however, is in the panicle. 

 The branches of the panicle are always stiff and horizontal in S. 

 coromandelianus and the spikelets are appressed to the branches 

 and never spreading or drooping, whereas in 5. commutatus the 

 branches are never stiff and horizontal, always obliquely ascending 

 and the spikelets are spreading and drooping. Judging from 

 living plants these two are undoubtedly distinct and so this plant 

 is treated as a distinct species retaining Kunth's name Sporobolus 

 commutatus. Enumeratio Plantarum, PI. I, 214. 



Distribution. — This occurs in Coimbatore, Madras and Bellary 

 Districts; but it is not so common nor so widely distributed as S. 

 coromandelianus, L. 



