Dactyloctenium.'] gramine^. 429 



second shortly awned, the flowering ones gradually smaller and less pointed, 

 the terminal one usually barren or rudimentary. Palea smaller, folded. 

 A single species, perhaps not sufficiently distinct as a genus from Eleusine. 



1. D. segyptiacuxn, Willd.; Kunth, Enum. i. 261. Stems tufted or 

 creeping and rooting or shortly ascending, or rarely 1 ft. high or more. 

 Leaves flat, ciliate, flaccid, with long points. Spikes usually 3 to 5, 1 to 1^ 

 in. long ; the angular rhachis very prominent on the upper or inner side, and 

 the spikelets regidarly and very closely packed at right angles to it on the 

 o})posite side ; the largest glumes about 1^ lines long, theii- short fine stiff 

 points very prominent. 



Hongkong, Hance. A very common weed in all warm countries. 



38. ELEUSINE, Gim-tn. 



Spikelets 2- or more-flowered, awnless, sessile in 2 rows along one side of 

 the spike-like almost digitate branches of a simple panicle. Glumes keeled, 

 usually obtuse, the 2 outer empty ones unequal and shorter than the flowering 

 ones. Paleas rather smaller, folded, the axis usually slightly continued beyond 

 the last one. Seed transversely wrinkled. 



A small, widely spread, tropical genus. 



1. S. indica, Gartn.; KuntJi, Emwi. i. 272. A coarse erect tufted grass, 

 1 to 2 ft. high. Leaves narrow, the sheaths flattened and distichous, ciliate 

 with a few long hairs. Spikes 5 to 7, 2 to 3 in. long, digitate, with usually 

 one inserted rather lower down. Ehachis prominent on the upper or inner 

 side ; the spikelets loosely imbricate on the opposite side. Each spikelet li 

 to 2 lines long, containing 3 to 5 flowers. Glumes obtuse, the lowest small 

 and 1 -nerved, the second empty one and the lower flowering ones usually 

 3 -nerved. 



Hongkong, Hance. A common weed in tropical countries. 



39. CHLOmS, Linn. 



Spikelets with 1 or rarely 2 fertile flowers, and 1 or more empty or rudi- 

 mentary glumes above it, singly sessile on one side of the spike-like digitate 

 branches of a simple panicle. Glumes keeled, 2 outer empty ones pointed 

 or shortly awned, the others usually awned or the upper empty ones awnless. 

 Grain free. 



A tropical or subtropical genus, common to the New and the Old World. 



1. C. barbata, Sw. ; Kiinth, Enum. i. 264. Stems creeping at the base 

 and branched, in large tufts, ascending to 1 or 2 ft. Leaves narrow, veiy pointed, 

 glaucous, the lower sheaths much flattened and distichous. Spikes 5 to 10, 

 closely digitate, 1|^ to 2 in. long. Outer glumes very unequal, persistent, 

 pointed, the longest about 1 line. Flowering glume about as long, ciliate 

 with long hairs on the inner edges, notched at the top with a fine straight 

 awn of about 2 lines. Upper empty glumes usually 2, truncate, with short 

 awns. 



On the seabeach at Saywan, Wilford. Very common in pastures in India as in most hot 

 countries. 



