, subacute, truncate or 2-toothed,
boat-shaped, sub-chartaceous, 3-nerved, paleate and distinctly keeled;
the keel and the margins of the glume are densely covered with
distinctly clavellate hairs; _palea_ is firmly membranous, equal to or
slightly smaller than the glume, linear-oblong, 2-keeled, densely hairy
with clavellate hairs along the keels, and 2-nerved. There are two
_lodicules_ and three _stamens_. The _ovary_ is ovoid with two style
branches. Grain is free within the glume, oblong, smooth, transparent,
and the embryo is about one-third the length of the grain.

This species is closely allied to _Cynodon dactylon_, Pers., but differs
from it in the following respects:--The absence of stoloniferous
underground branches, leaves short and not finely pointed; spikes not
exceeding five; the _second glume_ is always equal to or longer than the
_third glume_; presence of clavellate hairs on the keels and margins of
the third glume and on the keels of the palea.

_Distribution._--So far collected in Coimbatore, Salem, Tinnevelly,
Chingleput and Godavari districts.

36. Chloris, _Sw._

These are annual or perennial grasses. Spikes are solitary or many in
terminal umbels or short racemes, erect or spreading. Spikelets are
unilateral, sessile, crowded, biseriate on a slender rachis with four to
six glumes and 1 to 3-flowered; the rachilla is produced and
disarticulating above the empty glumes. The first two glumes are
unequal, narrow, keeled, membranous, 1-nerved, persistent, acute,
mucronate and the second glume awned shortly. Floral glumes narrow or
broad, acute, obtuse or minutely 2-toothed and awned, paleate; sterile
glumes are small, without palea. There are two lodicules and anthers are
rather small. Grain is narrow and free.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Spikelets 1-flowered.

Perennial.

Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glumes
and bearing awns with rudimentary glumes.

Spikes 4 to 10, long, whorled; spikelets
narrow fusiform; glume III oblong
lanceolate. 1. C. incompleta.

Rachilla produced beyond the flowering glume
and bearing 1 to 3 reduced glumes.

Spikes free at the base, digitate.

Spikes 6 to 9; spikelets 2-awned;
glume III ovate, bearded with long
hairs above the middle. 3. C. virgata.

Spikes 4 to 20; spikelets 3-awned;
glume III broadly ovate, densely