The _inflorescence_ is a pyramidal panicle 1-1/2 to 4 inches long, erect on a terete glabrous peduncle 1-1/2 to 6 inches long, the main rachis is slender, erect, striate, glabrous and has glandular streaks just above the insertion of the branches of the lowest verticil. Branches are capillary, stiff and spreading, horizontally verticillate or subverticillate, the lowest whorl consisting of five to sixteen or seventeen branches and the others from three to nine, shining, swollen at the point of insertion and provided with a glandular scar a little above the point of insertion; branchlets are very close, appressed to the rachis of the branch never drooping or spreading, each bearing two to five spikelets. The _spikelets_ are small, 1/20 to 1/16 inch subsessile or pedicelled, always appressed to the rachis solitary in the upper portions of the branches, and two to five on the branchlets in the lower portion, pale, green or rarely copper coloured, oblong or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, caducous or glumes one and two persistent. There are three _glumes_. The _first glume_ is very small, hyaline, ovate, obtuse, occasionally truncate or acute, about one-fifth of the third glume or less. The _second glume_ is membranous, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, thinly scaberulous and 1-nerved. The _third glume_ is as long as or a little shorter than the second glume, 1-nerved and paleate. The _palea_ is as long as the glume, oblong, 2-nerved, splitting in two portions between the nerves as soon as the grain is formed. _Stamens_ are three with reddish purple anthers; _stigmas_ are white at first, but turning brown while withering. _Lodicules_ are two, minute. The grain is oblong, pale, brown and obtuse at both ends, embryo about 1/3 of the grain. This grass flourishes in all kinds of soils all over the Presidency. _Distribution._--Throughout the plains of India and Ceylon. Also in Afghanistan and South Africa. [Illustration: Fig. 183.--Sporobolus commutatus.] =Sporobolus commutatus, _Kunth._= This is an annual and usually grows in loose tufts. Stems are slender, always erect or ascending, leafy and branching, 2 to 15 inches long. The _leaf-sheath_ is shorter than the internode, slightly compressed, finely striate, glabrous and occasionally with a few scattered tubercle-based hairs, margin ciliate; the uppermost sheath is cylindric somewhat long and embraces the greater portion of the peduncle and has a bunch of short hairs at the top. The _leaf-blade_ is narrow linear-lanceolate, acuminate scaberulous throughout, with long tubercle-based hairs scattered all over, but more of them near the base; margins spinulosely distantly serrulate or scabrid, base rounded or subcordate, 1/2 to 4-1/2 inches long and 1/16 to 3/16 inch wide. [Illustration: Fig. 184.--Sporobolus commutatus. 1. A portion of a branch; 2. spikelet; 3, 4 and 5. first, second and the third glume; 6. palea of the third glume; 7. ovary and anthers; 8 and 9. grain.]