. It is grown both
in wet and dry land.

_Distribution._--Throughout India (wild and also cultivated).

2. Digitaria, _Rich._

Annuals or perennials. The spikelets are lanceolate, 2- to 3-nate, in
digitate or racemose spikes, jointed on the pedicels but not thickened
at the base, 1-flowered. There are usually four dissimilar glumes in the
spikelet. The first glume is hyaline very minute, sometimes absent in
the same species. The second glume is membranous, 1- to 5-nerved or
nerveless. The third glume is membranous, almost equal to the fourth,
usually 7- to 9-nerved, the nerves being straight, close, parallel and
prominent, with a minute palea or without a palea. The fourth glume is
chartaceous or sub-chartaceous, usually 3-nerved and paleate; palea is
equal to and similar to the fourth glume, 2-nerved. Lodicules are two,
small, broadly cuneate. Stamens are three. Styles are distinct with
plumose stigmas exserted laterally near the apex of the spikelet. Grain
is enclosed in the fourth glume and its palea.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Spikelets 1/10 inch or more.

Spikes usually few, spikelets
bearded 1. D. sanguinalis. Var. ciliaris.

Spikelets not bearded 2. Do. Var. extensum.

Spikes usually many; spikelets
spreading 3. Do. Var. Griffithii.

Spikelets less than 1/10 inch.

Spikes narrowly winged;
spikelets subsilky with
slender (not clavellate)
hairs 4. D. longiflora.

[Illustration: Fig. 71.--Digitaria sanguinalis, _Var. ciliaris_.]

=Digitaria sanguinalis, _Scop._=

_Var. ciliaris._

This is an annual grass either with erect tall stems or long prostrate
stems, varying in length from 1 to 3 feet or more.

The _leaf-sheath_ is herbaceous, loose and glabrous. The _ligule_ is a
distinct membrane. The _nodes_ are glabrous.

The _leaf-blade_ is linear-lanceolate or linear, flat, glabrous or very
sparsely hairy, varying in length from 2 to 5 or 6 inches and in breadth
from 1/6 to 1/3 inch.

The _spikes_ are usually few, 2 to 6, 3 to 6 inches long, with a
triquetrous, narrowly winged rachis.

The _spikelets_ are oblong, acute, binate, one pedicel being shorter
than the other, usually appressed to the rachis and not spreading.

[Illustration: Fig. 72.--Digitaria sanguinalis. _Var. ciliaris_.

1. A portion of the spike showing the binate spikelets; 2. a spikel