x. The second, third and the fourth are more or less similar to
those of the sessile spikelet.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

Spike solitary, the first glume of the sessile
spikelet broadly winged. R. Myurus.

Spikes fascicled, the first glume of the sessile
spikelet narrowly winged. R. exaltata.

=Rottboellia Myurus, _Benth._=

This is a tufted perennial with creeping stems which branch freely into
ascending compressed branches, 10 inches to 2 feet high.

The _leaf-sheath_ is quite glabrous and compressed. The _ligule_ is a
short ciliate membrane. _Nodes_ are glabrous.

_The leaf-blade_ is flat, linear, acute, glabrous, 2 to 6 inches long.

The _inflorescence_ consists of a solitary terminal or axillary _raceme_
1 to 2 inches long; joints are shorter than the spikelets, excavate on
one side and with a pore which is hidden by the sessile spikelet. The
_sessile spikelet_ consists of _four glumes_. The _first glume_ is
somewhat fiddle-shaped, dilated above the middle into an orbicular wing,
and towards the base into two auricles joined by a transverse ridge,
scaberulous, 5-nerved. The _second glume_ is somewhat membranous, ovate,
acute and 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is hyaline, thin, oblong, obtuse
and nerveless. The _fourth glume_ is lanceolate, nerveless and without a
palea, bisexual. There are two cuneate _lodicules_. The _pedicelled
spikelets_ also have four glumes and the pedicels usually free, but also
sometimes adnate. The _first glume_ is oblong, obtuse, winged on one
side only, 5-nerved. The _second glume_ is boat-shaped, chartaceous,
3-nerved crested with a semi-circular wing at the apex. The _third
glume_ is hyaline, broadly oblong, obtuse, 3-nerved with a lanceolate
hyaline palea. The _fourth glume_ is oblong, obtuse, male.

[Illustration: Fig. 144.--Rottboellia Myurus.]

1. A portion of the raceme showing front view; 2. a portion of the
raceme showing the back view; 3. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet
showing the front side; 4. the same showing the back side; 5, 6, 7 and
8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume of the sessile
spikelet, respectively; 9 ovary and lodicules; 10, 11, 12 and 14. the
first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the
pedicelled spikelet; 13 and 15. palea of the third and fourth glumes of
the sessile spikelet.

This is very common in dry somewhat sandy places in the East Coast
districts.

_Di