The _inflorescence_ is an erect, narrow panicle consisting of spikes varying in number from 5 to 12 and in length from 2 to 3 inches. The _spikes_ are erect, pressed to the very slender rachis, longer than the internodes of the main rachis, stalked or sessile, mostly simple but sometimes the lower dividing into two or three branches, 1/2 to 1 inch long. The rachis of the spike is very slender, angular, flexuous, narrower than the spikelets, scaberulous with a few long cilia at the angles. The _spikelets_ are very small, 1/16 inch long, turned all to one side and closely packed in two rows, oblong or oval-oblong, obtuse or subacute, softly hairy, pale green or purplish, with very short pedicels which are pubescent with a few long hairs towards the thickened cupular tips. There are four _glumes_ in the spikelet. The _first glume_ is very small, membranous, glabrous, broader than long, cordate or triangular, broadly but shallowly emarginate, nerveless or very obscurely 1- to 2-nerved. The _second glume_ is pale or purplish, 5-nerved, hairy, as long as the third glume, membranous, oblong and obtuse. The _third glume_ is pale, nearly equal to the second glume with a longitudinal depression at the back, less hairy than the second glume, 3-nerved (rarely 5-nerved also); _palea_ is present, and it is hyaline, shorter than the glume, truncate or shallowly retuse, usually barren but occasionally with three stamens. The _fourth glume_ is oblong, rounded, coriaceous, smooth, shining, dorsally flattened, 3- or indistinctly 5-nerved; _palea_ is similar to the glume in texture and with folded margins. There are three _stamens_ with yellow anthers. _Lodicules_ are two, very small and distinct. _Ovary_ has two styles with feathery _stigmas_ white at first, but turning deep purple while withering. This delicate and small grass occurs here and there as mere tufts especially in sheltered situations. It usually flourishes in black cotton soils amidst cholam (_Andropogon Sorghum_), although it thrives equally well in other rich soils. This is considered to be a very good fodder grass. _Distribution._--It is fairly common all over the Madras Presidency, and goes up to 3,000 or 4,000 feet. It occurs in Africa, America and Italy. [Illustration: Fig. 82.--Panicum flavidum.] =Panicum flavidum, _Retz._= This plant is a tufted annual. It branches freely from the base; branches are tufted, decumbent at first but soon becoming erect, slender, glabrous, compressed and leafy, varying in length from 1 to 3 feet. Leaves are somewhat distichous. The _leaf-sheath_ is compressed, glabrous, sometimes with a tinge of purple, the lower ones swollen at the base and the mouth is hairy. The _ligule_ is a fringe of hairs. Nodes are glabrous.