x,
and acuminate, 5-nerved (rarely 3-nerved). The _second glume_ is broadly
ovate-lanceolate, concave, acuminate, short awned, 5-nerved with two
partial nerves one on each side of the central nerve (7- to 9-nerved at
the tip), hairs on nerves, a few tubercled. The _third glume_ is similar
to the second, broadly ovate-lanceolate, awned, awn 1/8 to 1/4 inch,
paleate with usually three stamens, occasionally neuter. _Lodicules_ are
present. The _fourth glume_ is chartaceous, shining, smooth
ovate-oblong, apex cuspidate, with a few hairs on the edges at the apex,
faintly 5-nerved. The _anthers_ within this glume come out before those
of the third glume. _Anthers_ are three, yellowish and _lodicules_ are
conspicuous though small.

In this grass very often, purple streaks or bands occur across the leaf
blades and the sheath and the spikelets become purple on one side as is
met with in P. colonum. This grass is occasionally found in the paddy
fields either alone, or along with _Panicum Crus-galli_.

_Distribution._--Throughout the Madras and the Bombay Presidencies and
in Ceylon in wet places especially in cultivated ground and in ditches.
Occurs more or less throughout India.

[Illustration: Fig. 89.--Panicum colonum.]

=Panicum colonum, _L._=

This is a slender annual growing to a height of 2 feet. The stems are
creeping below, erect above, and with roots in the lower internodes of
the decumbent part of the stem, smooth, dull green or partly purplish.

The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and sharply keeled. The _nodes_ are
glabrous or obscurely pubescent. There is no _ligule_.

The _leaf-blade_ is narrow, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous but
sometimes tubercle-based hairs occur just on the margin at the base of
the leaf-blade close to the white band, varying in length from 1 to 6
inches and in breadth 3/16 to 5/16 inch; the margin is minutely and
distantly serrate, midrib is quite distinct and there are three main
veins on each side and three or four smaller between main ones. The
blades of the lower leaves are narrow at the base and broader at about
the middle but those of the upper are equally broad at the base, as well
as at the middle.

[Illustration: Fig. 90.--Panicum colonum.

1 and 2. The front and back view of the spikes; 1a and 2a. the back and
the front view of the spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. the first, second and the
third glume, respectively; 6. palea of the third glume; 7 and 8. the
fourth glume and its palea; 9.