86 A FLORA OF MANILA 



racemosely arranged, ovoid-lanceolate, acuminate, green or purplish, 3 

 mm long, in pairs, one of each pair longer pedicelled than the other. 

 First and second glumes appressed-pubescent with grayish hairs. 



In open wet grass lands, paddy banks, etc., common, fl. all the year; 

 widely distributed in the Philippines, possibly introduced. Tropics gen- 

 erally. 



20. PASPALUM Linnaeus 



Annual or perennial, erect, ascending or spreading grasses. Spikelets 

 l-flowered plano-convex, in spike-like branches of a simple panicle or 

 raceme, the spikes digitately or racemo.sely arranged. Glumes 3, the first 

 and second equal, thin, the third coriaceous, bearing a perfect flower, the 

 palea similar in texture. (A Greek name for millet.) 



Species a:bout 175, in all warm countries, about 4 in the Philippines. 



1. Spikes alternate on an/elongated rachis. 



2. Spikelets mostly 4-ranked 1. P. longifolium 



2. Spikelets 2-ranked 2. P. scrobiculatum 



1. Spikes in pairs at the ends of the stems. 



2. Spikelets ovate-oblong, glabrous; leaves narrow 3. P. distichum 



2. Spikelets suborbicular, margins of the second glume ciliate; leaves 

 broad 4. P. conjugatum 



1. P. longifolium Roxb. 



A tufted, glabrous, erect, perennial grass 0.8 to 1.3 m high, the stems 

 somewhat prostrate and branched below.' Sheaths loose. Leaves about 20 

 cm long, 5 to 8 mm wide. Inflorescence exserted, each composed of from 



4 to 8 or more, racemosely arranged, alternate, spreading or ascending, 



5 to 8 cm long spikes. Spikelets 2 to 2.r) mm long, somewhat compressed, 

 obovoid, the empty glumes slightly pubescent, densely arranged in about 

 4 rows on the under surface of the somewhat flattened, green 3 to 4 mm 

 wide rachis. 



In open wet grass lands, Pasay, fl. all the year; widely distributed in 

 the Philippines. India to Malaya. 



2. P. scrobiculatum L. 



An erect, rather slender, nearly glabrous, somewhat wiry, tufted, peren- 

 nial gi-ass 40 to 80 cm high. Leaves flat, 6 to 15 cm long, 5 to 8 mm wide. 

 Spikes 3 or 4, usually spreading, 4 to 8 cm long. Spikelets pale, 2-seriate, 

 about 2 mm long. 



In open, usually dry lands, fl. all the year; throughout the Philippines. 

 All warm countries. 



Var. auriculatum (Presi) Merr. 



Much coarser, taller, up to 1 m high. Leaves broad, often auriculate 

 at the base. Spikes stout, 4 to 6. Spikelets 2.5 mm long. 



In low damp places near Pateros, fl. Dec-Jan.; widely distributed in the 

 Philippines, endemic. 



Var. blsplcatum Hack, var- noV. 



Smaller than the typical foi-m, 20 to 40 cm high, with usually but two 

 spikes 3 to 4 cm in length. 



In old rice lands, San Pedro Maeati, fl. July-Sept.; of very local occur- 

 rence. Endemic. 



