The leaf-blade is convolute when young, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, variable from 1/4 to 2 inches long and 1/10 to 1/6 inch wide, acuminate, flat or somewhat wavy, glabrous on both the surfaces, rigidly pungent, densely crowded and distichously imbricate in the lower part of the stem, base is amplexicaul, and the margin is distantly serrate and rigidly ciliate.
The inflorescence is a spike-like terminal panicle varying in length from 3/4 to 2 inches; the rachis is wavy, slender, angular or grooved, pubescent, the peduncle is striate, pubescent and enclosed by the leaf-sheath.
The spikelets are arranged in groups of two, facing each other and appearing like a single spikelet with two equal echinate glumes, sessile, or obscurely pedicelled on very short, tumid, pubescent branches.
Fig. 123.—Tragus racemosus.
1. A pair of spikelets; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 5. palea of the third glume; 6. ovary, anthers and lodicules.
There are two (rarely three) glumes in the spikelet. The first glume is very minute, hyaline, obtuse and it is very often not present. The second glume is about 1/8 inch, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, strongly 3-ribbed with rows of stout, spreading hooked spines along the ribs and encloses a single floret. The margins of this glume are membranous and somewhat scaberulous. The third glume is about 1/12 inch, oblong lanceolate, membranous minutely hairy, 3-nerved and finely pointed at the apex; the palea is as long as the glume, hyaline, 2-nerved, lanceolate, subacute and irregularly toothed at the apex. Stamens are three, with slender filaments, anthers are short, broad and pale yellow. The style branches are pale and feathery. Lodicules are two, fleshy and cuneate or subquadrate. The grain is free inside the glume and the palea, linear oblong, slightly compressed and pale brown, the embryo occupies about 1/3 the length of the grain.
This is one of the commonest grasses growing everywhere in tufts with usually prostrate branches. In some situations the branches are erect.
Distribution.—Plains of India throughout and Ceylon. It is found in all the warm regions of the world.