Fig. 156.—Andropogon asper.
1. Spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. the ovary, lodicules and stamens; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet; 11. callus of the spike.
This grass grows abundantly on the sides of the Kambakkam Drug, Chingleput district, and in Penchalkonda, Nellore district, and seems to be an endemic species. It is usually confined to the hill sides and not found in the plains. This grass is very closely allied to Andropogon Wightianus and it differs from it only in the general habit of the plant and in having bristles on the leaf-sheaths. On the whole this is a coarser and larger plant than A. Wightianus.
Distribution.—Kambakkam Drug in the Chingleput district and Penchalkonda in Nellore district.
Andropogon Wightianus, Steud.
(Chrysopogon Wightianus, Nees.)
This is a perennial. Stems are erect or ascending from a creeping root-stock, varying in height from 2 to 3 feet.
The leaf-sheath is flattened, softly hairy or glabrous, often ciliated near the mouth. The ligule is a fringe of very short hairs.
The leaf-blade is narrowly or rarely broadly linear, obtuse or acute and abruptly mucronate, or narrowly drawn into a point glabrous or pubescent, margins shortly ciliate.