A NEW GRASS CHLORIS BOURNEI Sp. Nov.
By K. Rangachariar and C. Tadu Lingam
Agricultural College, Coimbatore
Chloris Bournei Eangachariar and Tadulingam. (Gramina- ceso — Poaceaa — Chlorideoo) C. barbata Sw. affinis, sed majore spicula glumis cum 3-5 awnibus, et nervis hirsutis, differt. Herba perennis > Culmus crassus, 1-3 pedibus longus. Nodi purpurei. Folia linearia, glabra. Pedunculi ad quindicun digifci alti. Spici crassi, purpurei. Spiculsa 3 m.m. longae. Glumos cum 3 aub 4, saspe 5, awuibus. Awnes 5-7 m.m. longi. Flores feminei saepius cum 2 aut 3 granibus. Nerva tertias glumas apice basim hirsuta.
Log. Coimbatore, on black cotton soil. Herb. Madras. — 1317, 1318, 4443, 5348, 6166, 6569, Coll. K. Eangachariar.
This grass is perennial. The stems are somewhat stout, tufted, erect or ascending geniculately from a creeping and rooting base varying in length from 1 to 3 feet, with internodes 2 to 6 inches be- coming longer upwards; nodes are thickened, deeply purple-ringed, glabrous and the lower nodes always with a fan-like tuft of flattened leaf-sheaths and leaves.
Leaf-sheaths are equal to or longer than the internodes at the base, but shorter above, glabrous, compressed, distichous, bearded towards the mouth and with membranous margins. The ligule is a narrow membranous ridge.
Leaf-blades are liner, finely acuminate, slightly broadened and rounded at the base, keeled, the Upper surface scaberulous and with a few scattered long hairs especially towards the base, smooth or slightly scaberulous below, 1 to 9 inches by 1/12 to 1/4 inch.
The inflorescence consists of digitately arranged spikes 1 1/2 to 4 inches long on a peduncle which is sometimes 15 inches long ; spikes are stout, purple-tinged, 3 to 7 and even 9 in some specimens, shortly stalked, the base of the stalk being slightly swollen and villous at the base ; the rachis is slender, somewhat villous towards the base. Spikelets are about 1/8 inch excluding the awn, very shortly pedicell- ed, biseriate, unilateral, disarticulating above the first two glumes which are persistent, purplish or pale, 1 to 3-flowered, usually 3 to 4- awned and sometimes 5-awued ; awns are purplish 3/16 to 5/16 inch long, finely scabrid. There are 5 to 7 glumes in a spikelet. The first glume is hyaline, purplish or pale, about 1/10 inch long, lanceolate, subacuminate, 1-nerved with a scabrous keel; the second glume is hyaline, about one and a half times as long as the first, oblong
1990—25
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