296 GraminecB. \Eragrostis* 



nodes sparingly bearded, branches spreading, capillary, alt. 

 or whorled, lower sometimes 6 in. long, sparingly divided 

 from near the base ; spikelets scattered (never fascicled), 

 8~"t by to m -> 3-9-fld., ovate, much shorter than their pedicels, 

 pale olive-grey, rhachilla tough, scaberulous ; glumes I and II 

 subequal or II longest, ovate-lanceolate, subaristately acu- 

 minate, 1 -veined, keels scaberulous, fig. glumes orbicular,, 

 cupular, apiculate, lateral veins long, keels and palea scabrid; 

 stam. 3, anth. minute ; grain short, turgid, subquadrate, trun- 

 cately rounded at both ends, minutely stipitate, dorsally 

 depressed, dark brown, rugulose. 



Central Provinces. Dambulla and Maturatte districts. 



All India. 



A very variable grass, of which I have described above only the 

 Ceylon form. In small Indian specimens the 1. are chiefly basal, with 

 short sheaths. 



8. E. pilosa, Beauv. Agrost. 71 (18 12). 

 Thw. Enum. 209. C. P. 929. 



Fl. B. Ind. vii. 323. Host, Gram. Austriac. t. 68 (Pod). Reichb. Ic 

 Fl. Germ. t. 91, fig. 1659 and fig. 1660 (E. verticillata, R. and S.). 



Annual; stems 6-24 in., densely tufted, very slender, 

 flaccid, erect or geniculately ascending; 1. short, very narrow,, 

 usually convolute, filiform, flexuous, quite smooth, sheaths 

 appressed, glabrous, mouth with short long-bearded auricles,, 

 ligule a ridge of very short hairs; panicle 2-6 in. long, erect 

 or inclined, effuse or contracted, rhachis filiform and branches, 

 smooth, branches alt. fascicled or whorled, all capillary, 

 much divided, nodes sparsely furnished with very long hairs; 

 spikelets scattered (never fascicled), tV~t by aWo in., 

 5-10-fid., erect, ovate- to linear-lanceolate, usually purplish,, 

 pedicels rarely shorter than the spikelets, rhachilla tough, 

 smooth, flexuous; glumes all hyaline, I and II very unequal, 

 I ovate, veinless, II much larger, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate,, 

 strongly i-veined, keels smooth, fig. glumes much longer than 

 the empty, ovate, acute, palea subpersistent, keels smooth or 

 nearly so; stam. 3, anth. minute, violet; grain about tV in., 

 ellipsoid or obovoid, embryo narrow. 



Common in the warmer parts of the Island, ascending to 6000 ft. 

 Generally occurring in large patches (Ferguson). 



S. Europe and most warm countries. 



The Ceylon specimens have fewer glumes than occur in many Indian 

 and other forms. A dwarf state is common in the paths of the Peradeniya 

 Gardens. 



9. E. Willdenoviana, Nees in Wight, Cat. n. 1779 (non in Nov* 

 Act.). 



E. ftoaeoides, Trim. Cat. Ceyl. PI. 109 (non Beauv.). C. P. 3944. 

 Fl. B. Ind. vii. 322. 



