ow firmly convolute strap forming a
twisted column of about an inch jointed at the base, and this ends in
three slender scabrid awns of about 1-1/4 inch, the middle one being
longer. The glume just below the joint is finely scabrid to a little
distance. The _palea_ is short. _Anthers_ are small, purple. The _style_
branches are also purple. _Lodicules_ are oblong, obliquely truncate at
the apex and about 1/10 inch long. The grain is cylindric.

[Illustration: Fig. 177.--Aristida funiculata.

1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume,
respectively; 5. a portion of the column at the top and the basal
portions of the awns; 6. the ovary, lodicules and the stamens; 7. palea
of the third glume.]

Found in open dry situation in several places, but not widely
distributed.

_Distribution._--From the Punjab to Concan and Madras Presidency,
Arabia, Baluchistan and Tropical Africa.

32. Sporobolus, _Br._

These are perennial or annual grasses with varied habit. Inflorescence
is an open or contracted or spiciform panicle. Spikelets are small
consisting of three membranous glumes, 1-nerved or nerveless. The first
and the second glumes are unequal, persistent or separately caducous.
The third glume is ovate or oblong, acute or obtuse, longer or shorter
than the second, 1-nerved, paleate; palea is as long as the glume and of
the same texture of the glume dorsally narrowly inflexed along the
middle line and splitting into two halves. Lodicules are very minute or
absent. Stamens one to three. Styles are with short stigmas. Grain
oblong, obovoid or round.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Glumes I and II both shorter than III.

Panicle rather narrow with short
capillary branches; glumes I
and II nerveless. 1. S. diander.

Glume I shorter than II and III and II
nearly or quite as long as III.

Panicle contracted, narrow
and spiciform; glume I 1-nerved. 2. S. tremulus.

Panicle open and effuse.

Branches with spikelets and
pedicels appressed. 3. S. coromandelianus.

Panicle short; leaves glabrous.
Branches with pedicel and
spikelets drooping and
not appressed. 4. S. commutatus.

Panicle large; leaves with
long hairs. 5. S. scabrifolius.

=Sporobolus diander, _Beauv._=

This is a tufted annual or perennial grass. Stems are slend