FESTUCACE,E 



305 



Eragrostis pilosa, Beauv. 



This is a densely tufted annual grass. Stems are usually erect, 

 slender and simple, flaccid, 3 inches to 3 feet. 



The lea/sheath is compressed, glabrous and bearded with long 

 hairs close to the mouth. The ligule is a ridge of hairs. 



The leaf-blade is short, narrow, finely acuminate, 1^ to 4 

 inches. 



The panicle is oblong to pyramidal, flaccid, open or contracted 

 erect or inclined, 2 to 8 inches ; rachis is hairy or glabrous ; bran- 

 ches are very fine filiform or capillary, more or less whorled, 

 lower six inches long ; branchlets are still finer and capillary. 



Spikelets are linear, grey tipped with purple, or often purplish, 

 scattered, 1/8 to 1/5 by 1/30 to 1/20 inch, with pedicels snorter or 



Fig. 225. — Eragrostis pilosa. 



I. A portion of a branch with spikelets; 2 and 3. empty glumes ; 

 4. flowering glumes ; 5. palea ; 6. grain. 



longer than the spikelets. The empty glumes are hyaline, very 

 unequal, nerveless or the second which is ovate-lanceolate and 

 larger than the first faintly i-nerved. The flowering glumes are 

 ovate acute, paleate, i/io to 1/8 inch ; palea is sub-persistent and 

 keels of palea scaberulous. Stamens are three with small violet 

 anthers. Grain is ellipsoid laterally pointed at the base. 



This grass occurs in wet places or close to the margins of 

 ponds, marshy situations all over the Presidency. 



Distribution. — All over India and also in South Europe and 

 most warm countries. 



