The leaf-blade is short, 1 to 1-1/4 inches long, ovate or lanceolate, cordate at base, acute and glabrous on both the surfaces; the margin is minutely serrate, rigidly ciliate and with a very narrow hyaline border.
The inflorescence is a slender, crinite, spike-like raceme, 1 to 8 inches long, with a finely scabrid main rachis.
The spikelets are narrow linear 1/12 to 1/8 inch or longer, purple, shortly pedicelled and 1-flowered, pedicels are short with a hyaline swelling on the upper side at the base.
Fig. 125.—Perotis latifolia.
1 and 2. Spikelets; 3, 4 and 5, the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 6. ovary, stamens and lodicules.
There are three glumes. The first and the second glumes are empty, narrow-linear, purple, scabrid, 1-nerved and awned; awns are capillary, varying in length from 1/3 to 1/2 inch. The third glume is very minute with very small palea. There are three stamens and two small lodicules. Styles are somewhat shorter. The grain is long and cylindric.
This grass grows in open waste places and in dry fields all over the Presidency.
Distribution.—Throughout India.