The _leaf-blade_ is flat, thinly coriaceous, linear-lanceolate and acuminate, or ligulate with a rounded tip, 3 to 5 inches in length, 3/16 to 5/16 inch wide, glabrous or very thinly scaberulous, base rounded or slightly cordate with long white ciliate hairs on the small basal lobes. [Illustration: Fig. 83.--Panicum flavidum. 1 and 2. Front and back view of a portion of spike; 1a and 2a. the front and back view of a spikelet; 3 and 4. the first and the second glume, respectively; 5 and 5a. the third glume and its palea; 6 and 6a. the fourth glume and its palea; 7. anthers and ovary; 8. grain.] The _inflorescence_ is a raceme of spikes, 5 to 10 inches long, erect or inclined on a short or long, glabrous, strongly channelled peduncle; the main rachis is grooved, angled and scaberulous. _Spikes_ are few or many, 1/4 to 1 inch long, erect, pressing on the rachis of the inflorescence along the groove, distant and sessile; the lower spikes are very much shorter than the internodes, but the upper equal to or longer than the internodes; the rachis of the spike is angular, flattened below, erect or slightly recurved. The _spikelets_ are white, in two rows on a flattened rachis, obliquely ovoid or gibbously globose, glabrous, sessile, 1/8 inch in length. There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is suborbicular, about half the length of the third glume, usually 3-nerved. The _second glume_ is broadly ovate, obtuse, concave, larger than the first glume and nearly equal to or shorter than the fourth glume, 7-nerved, rarely 7- to 9-nerved, nerves are anastomosing, tip rounded. The _third glume_ is broadly ovate or oblong, equal to or longer than the fourth glume, obtuse, 3- to 5-nerved, paleate, mostly with and rarely without stamens. The _anthers_ are yellow and they do not open until the stigmas and anthers of the fourth glume are thrown out. _Lodicules_ are two and conspicuous. _Palea_ is hyaline with infolded margins. The _fourth glume_ is coriaceous, broadly ovate, tip acutely pointed and almost cuspidate or acute, mucronate, white or brownish, reticulately minutely pitted. _Anthers_ are three and yellow. _Stigmas_ are purplish. _Lodicules_ are small but conspicuous. This grass is very common throughout the plains and grows in the bunds of paddy fields and in wet situations, and goes up to moderate elevations on the hills. Cattle eat this grass greedily and seem to like it. It is considered to be an excellent fodder. _Distribution._--In wet situations all over India ascending to 6,000 feet. Occurs also in Ceylon, Africa, Tropical Asia and Australia. [Illustration: Fig. 84.--Panicum fluitans.] =Panicum fluitans, _Retz._= This is a perennial grass with prostrate branches which afterwards become erect towards the free ends. The young branches are covered with scale-leaves. Stems are stout, glabrous, smooth and hollow, rooting at the lower nodes.