A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

GRAMINEAE 91
and rooting at the nodes, the stems stout, sometimes nearly 1 cm thick.
Leaves 10 to 20 cm Ions', about 1 cm wide, acuminate, the sheaths dilated.
Inflorescence slender, 30 to 60 cm long, of numerous, racemosely arranged
spikes, the spikes 1 to 3 cm long, longer than the internodes, the rachis
excurrent as a slender, sharp awn. Spikelets oblong-ovate, about 2.5 mm
long, arranged in 2 rows.
In shallow pools and in low, wet ground, San Pedro Macati, Sept.-Dec;
not common in the Philippines. Tropical Africa, Asia, and Malaya.
3. P DISTACHYUM L.
A widely spreading, rather slender grass, the stems prostrate, branched,
rooting at the nodes, often 1 to 2 m in length, the flowering branches erect
or ascending, 20 to 40 cm high. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, acuminate,
8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 10 mm wide, glabrous, base broad, rounded. In-
florescence exserted, of 2 to 4, distant, usually spreading, 2 to 5 cm long,
racemosely arranged spikes. Spikelets oblong-ovoid, acute, about 4 mm
long, arranged in 2 rows, sessile or nearly so, gi'een.
In waste places, open, fairly dry land, rather common, fl. all the year;
widely distributed in the Philippines at low altitudes. India to China,
through Malaya to Australia.
4. P. COLONUM. L.
Stems tufted, 10 to 40 cm high, often decumbent below. Leaves 5 to
12 cm long, 2 to 8 mm wide, acuminate. Inflorescence of from 4 to 8
racemosely arranged, short, dense spikes, the spikes 0.5 cm long, about 5
mm thick, spreading or appressed. Spikelets 2.5 to 3 mm long, single, in
pairs, or in threes, in two rows, densely arranged, green or purplish, the
outer glumes hispid on the nerves, awnless.
Along roadsides, in waste places, etc., common, fl. throughout the year;
widely distributed in the Philippines. Troughout the tropics and in some
temperate countries.
5. P. stagninum Retz. Balili (Tag.).
A coarse, erect, aquatic or subaquatic grass 1 to 1.5 m high, the lower
parts often decumbent and rooting at the nodes, the stems 6 to 8 m thick.
Leaves 20 to 40 cm long, 8 to 13 mm wide. Panicles 20 cm long or less,
the spikes green or purple, distinctly longer than the internodes, spreading
or ascending, 1.5 cm long, nearly 1 cm thick. Spikelets in pairs in two
rows, nearly 5 mm long, the empty glumes hispid on the nerves, the third
glume with a long or short awn.
In shallow water and in low, wet lands, rather common, fl. more or
less all the year; widely distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya.
By some botanists reduced to the next species to which it is indeed very
closely allied.
6. P. CRUS-GALLI L.
A coarse, erect, annual grass 0.6 to 1 m high. Leaves 10 to 20 cm
long, 8 to 15 mm wide, acuminate. Panicles 10 to 20 cm long, usually
narrowly pyramidal, the spikes numerous, ascending or spreading, 2.5 to
8 cm long, about 7 mm in diameter, green or purplish. Spikelets 3.5 to 4
mm long, the empty glumes hispid on the nerves, the awn of the third
glume slender, 1 to 3 cm long, rarely wanting (var. mutica Doell.).
In open wet lands, waste places, etc., fl. all the year, widely distributed
in the Philippines. Tropical and temperate region of the world.