GRAMINEAE 91 



and rooting at the nodes, the steins sto^t, sometimes nearly 1 cm thick. 

 Leaves 10 to 20 cm long, about 1 cm wide, acuminate, the sheaths dilated. 

 Inflorescence slender, 30 to 60 cm long, of numerous, racemosely arranged 

 •spikes, the spikes 1 to 3 cm long, longer than the internodes, the rachis 

 excurrent as a slender, sharp awn. Spikelets oblong-ovate, about 2.5 mm 

 long, arranged in 2 rows. 



In shallow pools and in low, wet ground, San Pedro Macati, Sept.-Dec. ; 

 not common in the Philippines. Tropical Africa, Asia, and Malaya. 



3. P DISTACHYUM L. 



A widely spreading, rather slender grass, the stems prostrate, branched, 

 rooting at the nodes, often 1 to 2 m in length, the flowering branches erect 

 or ascending, 20 to 40 cm high. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 

 8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 10 mm wide, glabrous, base broad, rounded. In- 

 florescence exserted, of 2 to 4, distant, usually spreading, 2 to 5 cm long, 

 racemosely arranged spikes. Spikelets oblong-ovoid, acute, about 4 mm 

 long, arranged in 2 rows, sessile or nearly so, green. 



In waste places, open, fairly dry land, rather common, fl. all the year; 

 widely distributed in -the Philippines at low altitudes. India to China, 

 through Malaya to Australia. 



4. P. COLONUM. L. 



Stems tufted, 10 to 40 cm high, often decumbent below. Leaves 5 to 

 12 cm long, 2 to 8 mm wide, acuminate. Inflorescence of from 4 to 8 

 racemosely arranged, short, dense spikes, the spikes 0.5 cm long, about 5 

 mm thick, spreading or appressed. Spikelets 2.6 to 3 mm long, single, in 

 pairs, or in threes, in two rows, densely arranged, green or purplish, the 

 outer glumes hispid on the nerves, awnless. 



Along roadsides, in waste places, etc., common, fl. throughout the year; 

 widely distributed in the Philippines. Troughout the tropics and in some 

 temperate countries. 



5. P. stagnlnum Retz. Balili (Tag.). 



A coarse, erect, aquatic or subaquatic grags 1 to 1.5 m high, the lower 

 parts often decumbent and rootihg at the nodes, the stems 6 to 8 m thick. 

 Leaves 20 to 40 cm long, 8 to 13 mm wide. Panicles 20 cm long or less, 

 the spikes green or purple, distinctly longer than the internodes, spreading 

 or ascending, 1.6 cm long, nearly 1 cm thick. Spikelets in pairs in two 

 rows, nearly 5 mm long, the empty glumes hispid on the nerves, the third 

 glume with a long or short awn. 



In shallow . water and in low, wet lands, rather common, fl. more or 

 less all the year; widely distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya. 

 By some botanists reduced to the next species to which it is indeed very 

 closely allied. 



6. P. CRUS-GALLI L. 



A coarse, erect, annual grass 0.6 to 1 m high. Leaves 10 to 20 cm 

 long, 8 to 15 mm wide, acuminate. Panicles 10 to 20 cm long, usually 

 narrowly pyramidal, the spikes numerous, ascending or spreading, 2.6 to 

 8 cm long, about 7. mm in diameter, green or 'purplish. Spikelets, 3.5 to 4 

 mm long, the empty glumes hispid on the nerves, the awn of the third 

 glume slender, 1 to 3 cm long, rarely wanting (var. mutica Doell.). 



In open wet lands, waste places, etc., fl. all thfe year, widely distributed 

 in the Philippines. Tropical and temperate region of the world. 



