92 A FLORA OP MANILA 



7. P. auritum Presl. 



A coarse, erect, perennial grass 1 to 2 m high, the stems simple or 

 slightly branched, usually about 5 mm thick, sometimes rooting at the 

 lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, 10 to 25 cm long, 0.7 to 2.5 era 

 wide, base broad, cordate or auriculate. Panicles 15 to 40 cm long, diflfuse 

 or contracted, according to the stage of development, the spike-like branches 

 numerous, solitary or fascicled, 5 to 10 cm long, ascending or spreading, 

 densely flowered. Spikelets very numerous, green or purplish, oblong- 

 ovate, acute or slightly acuminate, 2.'5 mm long. 



Common in low, wet lands, fl. more or less throughout the year, but 

 especially in the rainy season; widely distributed in the Philippines at 

 low altitudes. India to China and Malaya. 



8. P. amplexicaule Rudge. 



A rather coarse, erect, aquatic or subaquatic grass 1 m high or less, 

 the stems stout, usually decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves 

 flat, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 15 to 25 cm long, 0.8 cm wide. Spikelets 

 very numerous, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, about 5 mm long, crowded 

 in dense, cylindric, continuous or somewhat interrupted spike-like pani- 

 cles 15 to 20 cm long, i to 1.5 cm in diameter. 



In shallow water, margins of the Pasig River, in esteros, etc., but not 

 abundant, fl. all the year; apparently quite widely distributed in the 

 Philippines al low altitudes. Tropics generally. 



9. P. indlcum L. 



A slender, erect, annual grass a few cm to about 1 m in height. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate or linear, acuminate, 5 to 15 cm long, 3 to 7 mm 

 wide. Inflorescence a dense, cylindric or oblong, spiciform panicle, 1 to 10 

 cm long, about 5 mm in diameter. Spikelets green or purplish, oblong, 

 straight or somewhat curved, about 2.5 mm long. 



In open, usually damp grass lands, common, fl. more or less throughout 

 the year;, throughout the Philippines. Tropical Asia and Africa through 

 Malaya to Australia. 



10. P. CAUDiOLUMB Hack. 



A loosely tufted, somewhat hairy, erect or ascending anitiual grass, 

 reaching a height of about 1 m. Leaves flat, lanceolate, hairy, 5 to 

 20 em long. Panicles open, diffuse, very lax, decompound, 20 to 40 cm 

 long, the. branches capillary. Spikelets long-pedicelled, arranged toward 

 the ends of the ultimate branchlets, purplish, ovate-lanceolate, 3 to 3.5 

 mm long, the flrst glume the longest, long-caudate-acuminate, the second 

 and third glumes shorter, acute, of about equal length, the flowering 

 glume oblong-elliptic, 1.5 mm long, shining. 



In dry, well drained, fallow lands, near San Felipe Neri, fl. Nov.-Feb.; 

 of local occurrence in Luzon and Palawan, certainly introduced. Java. 



.11. P. nodosum Kunth. 



A rather weak grass with elongated, slender, prostrate stems, and erect 

 or ascending branches 20 to 40 cm long. Leaves thin, lanceolate, acuminate, 

 5 to 8 cm long, 6 to 8 mm wide. Panicles weak, somewhat exserted, 10 cm 

 long or less, usually with from 2 to 4, solitary, ascending or spreading 

 branches, the lowest one 5 to 7 cm long. Spikelets green or purplish, 

 rather few, oblong, about 3 mm. long. 



In thickets, Pasay, Masambong; etc., fl. June-Oct. ; widely distributed 

 in the Philippines at low altitudes. Tropical Asia and Malaya. 



