Aristida.~\ 
GRAMINEA5. 
451 
2. A. Hystrix, Linn, fil.j Kunili , Enum , 1 . 191. Perennial, 
tufted, 1^-2 feet high. Stem much stronger than in the last, terete. 
Leaves 6-9 in. long, ■§• in. broad at the base, convolute. Panicle half a 
foot long, with short distant ascending branches ; spikelets in. long. 
Inner empty glume as long as the spikelet ; outer shorter, with a short 
awn. Awn of flowering glume trifid, the central branch an inch or more 
long. A. Sieberiana, Tr in. j Kunth, Enum. i. 191. 
Mauritius, Boivin ! Also Bourbon, Commerson /, Orient and East Indies. 
17. CYNODON, Eich. 
Spikelets arranged in unilateral digitate spikes, each containing a 
single perfect flower and above it the obscure rudiment of a second. 
Empty glumes lanceolate, subequal, persistent. Flowering glume 
similar in texture to the empty glumes, oblong, deeply boat-shaped ; 
pale straight, narrow-oblong, nearly as long. Hypogynous scales 2. 
Stamens 3. Styles short ; stigmas spreading, plumose. Grain free, 
glabrous. — Small perennial trailing grasses, with linear leaves. Dis- 
trib. All tropical and warm temperate regions. Species about 10. 
1. C. Dactylon, Eers.j Kunth , Enum. i. 259. Perennial, tufted, 
glabrous. Stems trailing, \-l ft. long, the lower internodes short and 
numerous. Leaves 1-3 in. long, narrow linear, acute. Spikes 5-9, 
1-3 in. long, with a slender quadrangular rachis ; spikelets^ in. long, 
unilateral, much imbricated, pale green, oblong, acute, finally decidu- 
ous. Empty glumes a third shorter than the spikelet, persistent, the 
outer one with a strong green keel. C. linearis, TFilld. Panicum 
Dactylon, Linn. 
Mauritius, Rodriguez, and Seychelles, common in dry soil. All round the 
world in the two warmer zones. Chiendent. 
18. ELEUSINE, Gsertn. 
Spikelets many-flowered, arranged in digitate or panicled long secund 
spikes. Empty glumes 2, firm, persistent, not awned ; outer largest, 3-5- 
nerved on the keel. Flowering glume oblong, not awned, the same 
texture as the others ; pale much smaller. Hypogynous scales 2, 
fimbriated. Stamens 3. Styles short ; stigmas spreading, plumose. Grain 
free, oblong-trigonal, with a loose membranous pericarp. — Glabrous 
annual grasses, with linear leaves and many dense spikes. Distrib. All 
warm regions. Species about 10. 
1. E. indica, Gartn.y Kunth , Enum. i. 272. Annual, glabrous, 
with densely tufted erect stems 1-2 feet long. Leaves few, linear, 
acute, glabrous, f-1 foot long. Spikes 3-6 in. long, 4-6, all digitate 
from the tip of the stem or 1 or more placed lower on the culm ; 
rachis slender, straight, triquetrous ; spikelets 5-flowered, much com- 
pressed laterally, in. long. Outer empty glumes £ in. long, im- 
