The spikelets are very small, 1/16 inch long, turned all to one side and closely packed in two rows, oblong or oval-oblong, obtuse or subacute, softly hairy, pale green or purplish, with very short pedicels which are pubescent with a few long hairs towards the thickened cupular tips.
There are four glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is very small, membranous, glabrous, broader than long, cordate or triangular, broadly but shallowly emarginate, nerveless or very obscurely 1- to 2-nerved. The second glume is pale or purplish, 5-nerved, hairy, as long as the third glume, membranous, oblong and obtuse. The third glume is pale, nearly equal to the second glume with a longitudinal depression at the back, less hairy than the second glume, 3-nerved (rarely 5-nerved also); palea is present, and it is hyaline, shorter than the glume, truncate or shallowly retuse, usually barren but occasionally with three stamens. The fourth glume is oblong, rounded, coriaceous, smooth, shining, dorsally flattened, 3- or indistinctly 5-nerved; palea is similar to the glume in texture and with folded margins. There are three stamens with yellow anthers. Lodicules are two, very small and distinct. Ovary has two styles with feathery stigmas white at first, but turning deep purple while withering.
This delicate and small grass occurs here and there as mere tufts especially in sheltered situations. It usually flourishes in black cotton soils amidst cholam (Andropogon Sorghum), although it thrives equally well in other rich soils. This is considered to be a very good fodder grass.
Distribution.—It is fairly common all over the Madras Presidency, and goes up to 3,000 or 4,000 feet. It occurs in Africa, America and Italy.
Fig. 82.—Panicum flavidum.