escent above, lower branches long, few in a whorl; rachis is
very slender, angular, glabrous or hairy. The _spikes_ are solitary and
each one consists of one sessile and two pedicelled spikelets. The
callus is long and densely bearded with brown hairs.

[Illustration: Fig. 157.--Andropogon Wightianus.

1. A spike; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 6. lodicules, stamens and
the ovary; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively, of the pedicelled spikelet.]

_Sessile spikelets_ are bisexual, sub-cylindric about 1/4 inch long.
There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is chartaceous, laterally
compressed, obscurely 4-nerved, glabrous below, hispid near the apex,
minutely 2-toothed or not at the apex, not awned or rarely with a short
awn. The _second glume_ is chartaceous, distinctly awned, the _awn_
being as long as the glume or longer, hispid above and at the sides
also. The _third glume_ is hyaline, linear-oblong, 2-nerved ciliate. The
_fourth glume_ is narrow with hyaline margins, with an _awn_ 2 to 3
inches long; _awn_ is hispid below, twisted and geniculate at and less
hairy above the middle. Stamens are three. Styles are two and feathery.
Lodicules are very small.

_Pedicelled spikelets_ are male or neuter, flattened, hairy, rarely
glabrous. The pedicels are half as long or slightly longer than the
sessile spikelet, truncate or semi-circular at the top, and with brown
villous hairs along the margin. There are four _glumes_. The _first
glume_ is about 3/8 inch, ciliate, along the inflexed margin, 7-nerved,
awned; _awn_ equal to or longer than the glume. The _second glume_ is as
long as the first, shortly awned or acuminate, 3-nerved, ciliate. The
_third glume_ is hyaline, oblong, 2-nerved, sparsely ciliate. The
_fourth glume_ is narrow, ciliate, nerveless or rarely 1-nerved, erose
or bifid at the top. _Anthers_ three or more.

This grass grows on the plains as well as on the hills. It is very
closely allied to _Andropogon asper, Heyne_, and it is very difficult to
distinguish them. _Andropogon Wightianus_ is somewhat smaller compared
with _Andropogon asper_, and the tubercle-based bristles on the
leaf-sheaths, so characteristic of _A. asper_, is absent.

_Distribution._--Madras, Chingleput district, Kodaikanal and the
Nilgiris.

=Andropogon monticola, _Schult._=

(_Chrysopogon monticola._)

This is a peren