282 



SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



Leptochloa chinensis, Nees. 



This is a tall annual grass. Stems are erect or geniculately 

 ascending from a creeping root-stock, varying in length from 2 to 

 4 feet. 



The leaf-sheath is smooth, loose, the lower often broad and 

 open- The ligide is a short hyaline lacerated membrane. 



The leaf-blade is narrowly linear, finely acuminate, somewhat 

 coriaceous, glabrous, 6 to iS inches long and ^ to V\ inch broad. 



The inflorescence is a contracted panicle, 6 to l8 inches long 

 with spreading or suberect, alternate or opposite spikes which are 

 capillary and vary from 2 to 4 inches in length. 



The spikelets are small, shortly stalked, 4- to 8-tiowered, 1/10 to 

 % inch with the rachillo produced between the flowering glumes. 



Fig. 212.— Leptochloa chinensis. 



1 . A portion of the spike ; 2 and 3. the first Bnd the second glume ; 4 and 5. the 

 flowering glume and its palea ; 6. the stamens and the ovary. 



The first glume is small, oblong, obtuse or apiculate. The second 

 glume is similar to the first but twice as long as the first glume. 

 The third glume and the succeeding flowering glumes are ovate- 

 oblong, obtuse or apiculate, with submarginal lateral veins ; palea 

 are broadly oblong with silkily ciliate keels. Anthers are usually 

 very small. Grain is oblong, obtusely trigonous, or concavo-convex, 

 red-brown and rugulose on the ventral side. 



This grass is very common amidst paddy in wet lands and in 

 wet situations. 



Distribution. — Throughout India and Ceylon in wet places. Also 

 in China, Japan and Australia. 



