Empty glumes are unequal. The first glume is hyaline very small, nerveless or one-nerved, subacute or subobtuse; the second glume is much longer than the first glume, ovate-oblong subacute, keeled, membranous and one-nerved. Flowering glumes vary from about 12 to 30 and in some well grown plants as many as 42, broadly ovate, obtuse or subacute, rigidly membranous, three-nerved (one median and two marginal) glabrous, keeled and keels are scaberulous near the apex; palea is oblong linear, a little curved, persistent, a little smaller than the glume, two-keeled; there are three stamens with small purplish anthers and two small lodicules. The grain is oblong truncate at both ends, reddish brown, with a prominent groove on the dorsal side; embryo occupying nearly half the length of the grain.
This grass grows abundantly in somewhat rich soils all over the Presidency and cattle eat it. It grows quickly and bears a fair amount of foliage.
Distribution.—Madras Presidency in the plains; also occurs in Ceylon.
Eragrostis pilosa, Beauv.
This is a densely tufted annual grass. Stems are usually erect, slender and simple, flaccid, 3 inches to 3 feet.
The leaf-sheath is compressed, glabrous and bearded with long hairs close to the mouth. The ligule is a ridge of hairs.
The leaf-blade is short, narrow, finely acuminate, 1-1/2 to 4 inches.
The panicle is oblong to pyramidal, flaccid, open or contracted erect or inclined, 2 to 8 inches; rachis is hairy or glabrous; branches are very fine filiform or capillary, more or less whorled, lower six inches long; branchlets are still finer and capillary.