long as the first, ovate lanceolate, 1-nerved,
acuminate. The _third glume_ is equal to or a little shorter than the
second, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1-nerved paleate; _palea_ is equal to
the third glume, 2-nerved splitting into two halves between the nerves.
_Anthers_ are three and purple in colour. _Stigmas_ are white and
feathery. Grain as in _S. coromandelianus_.

In Flora of British India, this plant is included under Sporobolus
coromandelianus. These two plants (_S. coromandelianus_ and _S.
commutatus_) are quite distinct and grow side by side. As the
differences are not easily seen in herbarium specimens the two plants
are put together under the one species _S. coromandelianus_. The
branches are tufted and are usually decumbent at base, leaves quite
green and somewhat broad in _S. coromandelianus_; and in _S.
commutatus_, branches are usually not decumbent at base, generally erect
from the base and leaves are green glaucous and somewhat narrow. The
most striking difference, however, is in the panicle. The branches of
the panicle are always stiff and horizontal in S. coromandelianus and
the spikelets are appressed to the branches and never spreading or
drooping, whereas in _S. commutatus_ the branches are never stiff and
horizontal, always obliquely ascending and the spikelets are spreading
and drooping. Judging from living plants these two are undoubtedly
distinct and so this plant is treated as a distinct species retaining
Kunth's name _Sporobolus commutatus_. Enumeratio Plantarum, Pl. I, 214.

_Distribution._--This occurs in Coimbatore, Madras and Bellary
Districts; but it is not so common nor so widely distributed as S.
coromandelianus, _L._

[Illustration: Fig. 185.--Sporobolus scabrifolius.]

=Sporobolus scabrifolius, _Bhide._=

The plant is a very pretty one, especially when in flower. It is a
loosely tufted annual varying in height from 5 to 30 inches. Stems are
slender, terete, 6 to 30 inches long, bent at the base, then
geniculately ascending and finally becoming erect, glabrous, pale green
or purplish.

The _leaf-sheath_ is shorter than the internode, slightly compressed,
obscurely keeled, glabrous and striate, margin is thinly ciliate on one
side, especially towards the mouth which is bearded. The leaf-sheath
embracing the peduncle is longer than the lower sheaths. The _ligule_ is
a fringe of close-set hairs on an inconspicuous ridge. The _nodes_ are
glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is glaucous