There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is linear-lanceolate, acute and terminating in an awn, 1-nerved and varying in length from 3/4 to 7/8 inch. The _second glume_ is similar to the first, but narrower and shorter, 1/2 inch or longer. The _third glume_ is very short, and is prolonged towards the apex as a narrow firmly convolute strap forming a twisted column of about an inch jointed at the base, and this ends in three slender scabrid awns of about 1-1/4 inch, the middle one being longer. The glume just below the joint is finely scabrid to a little distance. The _palea_ is short. _Anthers_ are small, purple. The _style_ branches are also purple. _Lodicules_ are oblong, obliquely truncate at the apex and about 1/10 inch long. The grain is cylindric. [Illustration: Fig. 177.--Aristida funiculata. 1. A spikelet; 2, 3 and 4. the first, second and the third glume, respectively; 5. a portion of the column at the top and the basal portions of the awns; 6. the ovary, lodicules and the stamens; 7. palea of the third glume.] Found in open dry situation in several places, but not widely distributed. _Distribution._--From the Punjab to Concan and Madras Presidency, Arabia, Baluchistan and Tropical Africa. 32. Sporobolus, _Br._ These are perennial or annual grasses with varied habit. Inflorescence is an open or contracted or spiciform panicle. Spikelets are small consisting of three membranous glumes, 1-nerved or nerveless. The first and the second glumes are unequal, persistent or separately caducous. The third glume is ovate or oblong, acute or obtuse, longer or shorter than the second, 1-nerved, paleate; palea is as long as the glume and of the same texture of the glume dorsally narrowly inflexed along the middle line and splitting into two halves. Lodicules are very minute or absent. Stamens one to three. Styles are with short stigmas. Grain oblong, obovoid or round. KEY TO THE SPECIES. Glumes I and II both shorter than III. Panicle rather narrow with short capillary branches; glumes I and II nerveless. 1. S. diander. Glume I shorter than II and III and II nearly or quite as long as III. Panicle contracted, narrow and spiciform; glume I 1-nerved. 2. S. tremulus. Panicle open and effuse. Branches with spikelets and pedicels appressed. 3. S. coromandelianus. Panicle short; leaves glabrous. Branches with pedicel and spikelets drooping and not appressed. 4. S. commutatus. Panicle large; leaves with long hairs. 5. S. scabrifolius. =Sporobolus diander, _Beauv._= This is a tufted annual or perennial grass. Stems are slender with leaves tufted at the base, 1 to 3 feet high. The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous and smooth, ribbed, the lower short and the upper very long. _Nodes_ are glabrous. The _ligule_ consists of a fringe of minute hairs.