Jpamcum] GraminecE. 153 



-very narrowly linear, $-6 by x V-f m -> finely acuminate, 

 margins smooth, base narrow, minutely cordate, sheaths 

 -eciliate, ligule of fine soft hairs; panicle 1-4 in. long, erect, 

 effuse, oblong, rhachis very slender, smooth, branches sub- 

 •erect, fascicled, capillary, bearing many distant minute 

 spikelets on capillary pedicels ^-J in. long; spikelets erect, 

 -5^ in., ellipsoid or narrowly ovoid, acute, glabrous; glume I 

 two-thirds as long as III, broadly ovate, acuminate, 3-5- 

 veined, lateral veins often arching and joining the median, 



II and III subequal, II orbicular-ovate, acuminate, 3-5- 

 veined, 3 middle veins thickened upwards, 2 lateral very short, 



III shorter than II, more oblong, 5-veined, paleate, neuter, 

 palea broad, obtuse, IV oval-oblong, sessile, obtuse, dorsally 



•convex, shining, pale, thinly coriaceous, margin narrowly 

 jncurved. 



South of the Island. Spikelets green or purplish. 



Throughout the plains of India, Borneo. 



The l.-sheaths are occasionally hairy in Peninsular specimens. 



32. *P. maximum, Jacq. Ic.Pl. Par. i.2 (1781-6). Rata-Jana, S. 



P. jumentorum, Pers. ; Thw. Enum. 361 (in note). P. polygamum, 

 Sw.; Moon, Cat. 8. 



Fl. B. Ind. 49. Jacq. 1. c. t. 13, et Eclog. Gram. t. 21 (P. gongylodes). 



Perennial (?) ; stem 8-10 ft., tufted, erect, branching up- 

 wards, leafy, but not up to the panicle, roots of stout fibres, 

 internodes 6-12 in., nodes bearded ; 1. 1-2 ft. by \-\ in., 

 gradually narrowed from a narrow base to a long filiform 

 tip, fiat, smooth, glabrous or minutely scaberulous, margins 

 scabrid, base narrow, rounded or cordate, usually villously 

 •ciiiate with long hairs, sheaths as long as the internodes or 

 longer, glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins naked or ciiiate 

 above with long soft hairs, of which the ligule consists ; 

 panicle 1-2 ft. long, decompound, erect, rhachis strict, scabrid, 

 branches erecto-patent, capillary, strict, scabrid, lower whorled, 

 upper alternate or whorled; spikelets scattered, distant, -fo~w 

 in., sessile or pedicelled, elliptic-oblong, obtuse or subacute, 

 glabrous, pedicels capillary, up to \ in. long; glume I about 

 one-fourth of III, orbicular, hyaline, 0-3-veined, II and III 

 subequal, broadly ovate, subacute, thin, faintly 5-veined, 

 III paleate, empty or male, palea oblong, as long as the 

 _glume, IV sessile, narrowly obovoid or oblong, obtuse or 

 acute, coriaceous, dorsally convex, rugulose, margins strongly- 

 incurved. 



A cultivated fodder grass, occurring in a semi-wild state up to 4000 ft. 

 •v(Ferguson). Guinea grass. 



Native of tropical Africa. Cultivated in most hot countries. 



