1898 CLIII. GRAMINE^. [Eleusine, 



ciliate, flaccid, with long points. Spikes usually 3 to 5, digitate, under Jin. but 

 sometimes lin. long, the angular rhachis prominent on the upper or inner side, 

 the spikelets regularly and very closely packed at right angles to it on the opposite- 

 side. Outer glume about 1 line long, acute, the 2nd broader, obtuse or 

 emarginate, the keel produced into a short dorsal awn, the rhachis of the spikelet 

 produced above the outer glumes but glabrous. Flowering glumes broad, 

 complicate, tapering into short spreading points. Pericarp loose over the 

 enlarged ovary, disappearing from the ripe rugose seed. — Pluk. Almag. t. 300,. 

 f. 8 : Bail. 111. Mono. Gr. Q. i. ; Cynosurus agyptius, Linn. Spec. 136 ; 

 Dactyloctenium agyptiacum, Willd. ; Kunth, Enum. i. 261 ; Elevsine cmciata, 

 Lam. ; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. Ill ; E. radidans, K. Br. Prod. 186 ; Dactyloctenium 

 radidans, Beauv. ; Kunth, Enum. i. 262. 



Hab.: Islands oi the Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait ; Booby Island, Banks and 

 Solander ; RookiDgham Bay, Dallachy ; Herbert's and Nerkool Creeks, Bowman ; Graoemere,. 

 O'Siianesy ; Ballandool Kiver, Lnchyer ; Barooo, Schneider. 



A common weed of warm countries. 



2. E. indica (of India), Gartn.: Kunth, Enum. i. 272 ; Benth. Ft. Atistr. vii> 

 615. Barnyard Grass, Crow-foot, Crab Grass. A coarse erect tufted grass 1 to- 

 2ft. high. Leaves narrow, the sheaths flattened and distichous, ciliate with a 

 few long hairs ; ligula membranous ciliate. Spikes 5 to 7, 2 to Sin. long,, 

 digitate, with usually 1 inserted rather lower down, the rhachis prominent on the 

 upper or inner side, the spikelets loosely imbricate on the opposite side. Each 

 spikelet 1^ to 2 lines long, containing 3 to 5 flowers. Glumes obtuse, the lowest, 

 small and 1 -nerved, the 2nd empty one and the lower flowering ones usually 

 8-nerved. Pericarp persistent, very loose and membranous, enclosing the rugose 

 seed. — Trin. Spec. Gram, t. 71 ; F. v. M. Frrgm. viii. 112 ; Turner Ag. Gaz. 

 N.S.W. ii ; E. marginata, Lindl. in Mitch. Three Exped. i. 319. 



Hab.: Moreton Bay, Leichhardt, Bailey; Rockhampton, O'Shanesy, Thozet; Nerkool Creek, 

 Bowman. 



A common tropical and subtropical weed. A strong-growing succulent summer grass. 



Var. mcmostachya. A weak plant, the largest seen under 1ft. high ; leaves narrow ; spikes- 

 solitary, IJ to 2in. long. 



Hab.: Irviuebank, F. Bennett ; Brisbane Elver, J. F. Bailey (this specimen was obtained in 

 a garden and may have been obtained attached to other plants received from the north). 



3. E, verticillata (whorled), Roxb. -. Fl. Ind. et Car. et Wall. i. 346 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. vii. 616. An erect annual of 1 to ipt., with the habit of E. indica. 

 Leaves flat, with loose flattened sheaths. Spikes or panicle-branches 6 to 12 or 

 even more, varying from 1 to Sin. long, the lower ones distant or verticiilate, the 

 upper ones almost digitate. Spikelets 2 to 3 lines long, 8 to 12-flowered. Outer 

 empty glumes small and narrow, the lowest almost subulate, the 2nd lanceolate, 

 keeled with a fine point. Flovs^ering glumes rather above 1 line long, broad and 

 S-nerved, the keel produced into a short point, the lateral nerves ending usually 

 in a small tooth on each side of the point. Pericarp loose over the enlarged ovary^ 

 disappearing from the rugose seed. — F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 112 ; E. racemosa. 

 Both, Nov. Sp. PI. 80 ; Leptochloa verticillata and L. racemosa, Kunth, Enum. i. 

 27'2t ; Acrachne eleusinoides Nees in Herb, Wight, n. 118 and 1760. 



Hab.: Bowen Elver, Bowman. Bare.. 

 Widely spread over tropical Asia and Africa. 



72. LEPTOCHLOA, Beav. 



(Slender grass.) 



Spikelets several-flowered or rarely 1 -flowered, sessile in 2 rows along one sida 

 of the slender usually numerous branches of a simple panicle, the rhachis of the 

 spikelet articulate above the outer glumes and more or less produced above the 



