Fig. 116.—Pennisetum cenchroides.
1. A portion of a spike; 2 and 3. spikelets with their involucels; 4. a bristle; 5, 6, 7 and 8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 7a and 8a. palea of the third and the fourth glume, respectively; 9. ovary and stamens.
Spikelets are about 1/5 inch long oblong-lanceolate, one to three in a spike and sessile.
There are four glumes in a spikelet. The first glume is small, hyaline, ovate-lanceolate, acute, nerveless or sometimes 1-nerved. The second glume is a little longer than the first, ovate, acute, about half of the third glume, hyaline, 1 to 3-nerved. The third glume is ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, generally 5- to 7-nerved, paleate, usually male; palea is lanceolate, equal to or slightly shorter than the glume. The fourth glume is as long as the third with a broad hyaline margin, 5-nerved paleate; palea as long as the glume. Anthers are three, yellow, stigmas white, feathery and the styles shortly united at the base. Lodicules are not present.
This is the famous Kolakattai grass (Tamil) of the Coimbatore District and it grows in all kinds of soil and is capable of growing even when the soil is dry. It is readily eaten by cattle, sheep, goat and when once established is not easily killed out even by prolonged droughts. It is in flower in June, November and December.
Distribution.—Fairly common in South India and Western India. Said to occur in Tropical Africa also.
There is a variety of this grass named echinoides. This differs from the type in the following respects—the inner bristles are united very much above the base and much thickened and stiffer than in the type. (See fig. 116-3)