612 
CXIII. GRAMINE.E 
1. Polypogon monspeliensis, Desf . ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 245. 
Annual ; stems 1-2 ft. Leaves 3-6 in., up to J in. broad. Panicle 
pale, shining, yellow-green, usually cylindric, sometimes slightly 
lobed. Empty glumes : margins fringed ; awns usually two to 
four times as long as the glumes, rarely only slightly longer. 
Sutlej valley below Kotgurh, in rice-fields. — Throughout India, ascending 
to 9000 ft. — Tropical and temperate regions, including Britain (Beard Grass). 
2. Polypogon littoralis, Sm. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 246. Usually 
perennial ; stems ft. Leaves 2-4 in., up to § in. broad. 
Panicle green or tinged with purple, 1-3 in., interrupted or 
lobed, rarely cylindric. Empty glumes : margins pubescent, not 
fringed ; awns usually about as long as the glumes, rarely twice as 
long. 
Simla, Theog, below Kotgurh in rice-fields. — Temperate Himalaya, 4000- 
10,000 ft. — Subtropical and temperate regions, including Britain (Beard Grass). 
29. SPOROBOLUS. From the Greek spora, a seed, and hallo, 
to cast forth, referring to the ripe grain dropping out. — Chiefly 
tropical regions. 
Perennial, rarely annual. Leaves mostly basal, narrow, flat 
or the margins inrolled. Ligule reduced to a few hairs. Spikelets 
numerous, less than jV in., awnless, 1 -flowered, arranged on the 
branches of a narrow or pyramidal panicle. Rhachilla not pro- 
longed. Glumes all membranous. Empty glumes 2, the lower 
the shorter. Flowering glume acute. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles 2, 
short, distinct, feathery. Grain ovoid, loosely enclosed within 
the persistent glumes, ultimately exposed and soon dropping out, 
outer coat loose. 
Upper empty glume much shorter than the flowering glume. 
Leaf -margins entire. 
Panicle pyramidal, 4-10 in. . . . . 1. 8. diander. 
Panicle narrow, 6-18 in. . . . . . . . 2. S. indicus. 
Upper empty glume as long as the flowering glume. Leaf- 
margins toothed . . . . . . . 3. S. piliferus. 
1. Sporobolus diander, Beauv. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 247 . Perennial; 
stems 1-3 ft. Leaves 3-10 in., glabrous ; margins entire. Panicle 
pyramidal, 4-10 in. ; branches spreading, the lower 1-2 in. Spike- 
lets in., pale brown. Upper empty glume much shorter than, 
the flowering glume. 
Below Kotgurh. — Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. — Tropical Asia 
and Australia. 
2. Sporobolus indicus, R. Br . ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 247. Perennial ; 
stems 2-3 ft. Leaves 8-24 in., glabrous ; margins entire. Panicle 
very narrow, 6-18 in., tapering to a fine point ; branches erect, the 
