272 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



37. Eleusine, Gaertn. 



These are annual or perennial grasses. Leaves are long or 

 short. The spikelets are sessile 3 to 12 flowered, 2 to 3-seriate, 

 secund, laterally compressed and forming digitate whorled or 

 capitate spikes, not joined at the base ; rachilla continuous between 

 the flowering glumes. The glumes in a spikelet are few to many, 

 keeled. The first two glumes are subequal or unequal, persistent ; 

 the first glume is i-nerved and the second glume is I-to 7- 

 nerved. The flowering glumes are 3-nerved, paleate ; palea is 

 complicate ; keels are strong, scabrid or ciliate. Lodicules are two, 

 cuneate. Anthers are short. Styles distinct and short. Grain is 

 free, rugose, and the pericarp is hyaline and loose. 



Key to the species. 



Spikelets pointing upward at an acute angle with the rachis of the 

 spike. 



Spikes 1 to 5 inches long, digitate, I l E indica 

 erect. f 



Spikes % to ji inch or a little) £ brevifolia> 

 more, capitate, spreading. J 



Spikelets spreading at right angles with) 



the rachis of the spike, spreading or \~ 3. E. asgyptiaca. 

 erect. J 



