Fig. 149.—Andropogon foveolatus.
1 and 2. Sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 7. lodicules, anthers and ovary; 8, 9 and 10. the two glumes and the palea of the pedicelled spikelet.
The spikes are solitary, 1 to 1-3/4 inch long exserted far above the small spathiform leaf-sheaths, peduncles are capillary and scaberulous, pedicels and joints are somewhat flattened, and have along both the narrow margins long, white, ascending hairs; callus is short with a ring of short white hairs.
There are two kinds of spikelets, sessile and pedicelled, and both are oblong-lanceolate and equal. The sessile spikelet consists of four glumes. The first glume is lanceolate, flat and smooth, keels scabrid with usually a deep dorsal pit, 4-nerved. The second glume is lanceolate, acute, as long as the first, 3-nerved. The third glume is small, membranous, linear-lanceolate, nerveless. The fourth glume is the dilated base of the awn, awn is about 3/4 inch twisted to half its length, scabrid, the lower twisted part dark and the upper pale. There are three stamens and two lodicules. Ovary has two feathery stigmas. The pedicelled spikelets have only two glumes and contain three stamens. The first glume is oblong-lanceolate, 5-nerved, pitted above the middle, with recurved margins and scabrid keels and nerves. The second glume is lanceolate, membranous, hairy at the top, 3-nerved with margins infolded; palea is oblanceolate, thinly membranous, nerveless and ciliated at the top; there are three stamens and two lodicules.
This is a fairly common grass occurring all over the Presidency much liked by cattle and yields plenty of foliage if properly looked after. It grows on all kinds of soils, even laterite.
Distribution.—Throughout India.
