Fig. 73.—Digitaria sanguinalis, Var. Griffithii.
1. Inflorescence; 2. a portion of the spike; 3 and 4. sessile and pedicelled spikelets front and back view, respectively; 5. the scale-like first glume; 6, 7 and 8. the second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 9. palea of the fourth glume; 10. the lodicules, stamens and the ovary.
There are four glumes. The first glume is a minute scale. The second glume is shorter than the third and narrower, 5-nerved, ciliate, acute or sometimes with two fine teeth. The third glume is oblong-lanceolate, acute, 5-nerved (rarely 3-nerved), ciliate on the nerves. The fourth glume is lanceolate, acute, sub-chartaceous, paleate; palea is like the glume in texture. Anthers are yellow and stigmas are white. Lodicules are two and small.
This seems to be a good fodder grass. It grows in all kinds of soils. It is not so common in the plains as on the hills, though it occurs in the plains at the base of the hills.
Distribution.—Throughout India.
Fig. 74.—Digitaria sanguinalis, Var. extensum.