-set hairs. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blades_ are quite flat, narrowly lanceolate-linear very finely
acuminate, glabrous on both the surfaces but with tufts of hairs on both
sides at the base where the blade joins the sheath, prominently nerved;
margin is even and without any hyaline border, the blade varies in
length from 2 to 9 inches.

[Illustration: Fig. 174.--Aristida Hystrix.

1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively; 4a. the third glume and its awns; 5. palea of the third
glume; 6. lodicules, anthers and the ovary.]

The _inflorescence_ is an effuse panicle, as long as broad, varying in
length from 4 to 10 inches; the main rachis is stout, finely scabrid,
with stiff slender, horizontally spreading or reclining branches that
arise in pairs from the nodes, the branches have swollen bases at the
nodes and they are covered by long hairs.

The _spikelets_ are 3/8 inch long excluding the awn. There are three
_glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, lanceolate, acuminate and
terminating in an awn, 1-nerved, 3/8 to 1/2 inch including the awn, with
the keel very finely scabrous. The _second glume_ is longer than the
first, chartaceous, lanceolate, terminating in an awn, 1/2 to 3/4 inch
long including the awn, with a smooth keel. The callus of the third
glume is short, pointed and villous. The _third glume_ is chartaceous
finely scabrid 1/4 to 3/8 inch long excluding the awn, 3-nerved, 3-lobed
at the apex and the lobes becoming awns; _awns_ are 1 inch long, the
middle one being a little longer. The outer margin of the glume is
broader than the inner margin and is rounded at the apex at the base of
the awn. There are three _stamens_ and the anthers are pale or purplish.
The style branches are purplish. The _lodicules_ are 1/8 inch long
obliquely lanceolate.

This grass is fairly common in all open dry situations throughout this
Presidency.

_Distribution._--Deccan Peninsula and Ceylon.

[Illustration: Fig. 175.--Aristida mutabilis.]

=Aristida mutabilis, _Trin. & Rup._=

This is a small tufted annual grass with simple or branched slender
stems spreading at the base, and sometimes geniculately ascending and
rooting at the lower nodes, 6 to 12 inches long. The _nodes_ have dark
purple rings when dry.

The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous, with membranous margins and long hairs at
the mouth. The _ligule_ is a row of short dense hairs.

The _leaf-blade_ is slender, convo