1. A portion of a spike; 2 and 3. spikelets with their involucels; 4. a bristle; 5, 6, 7 and 8. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 7a and 8a. palea of the third and the fourth glume, respectively; 9. ovary and stamens.] _Spikelets_ are about 1/5 inch long oblong-lanceolate, one to three in a spike and sessile. There are four _glumes_ in a spikelet. The _first glume_ is small, hyaline, ovate-lanceolate, acute, nerveless or sometimes 1-nerved. The _second glume_ is a little longer than the first, ovate, acute, about half of the third glume, hyaline, 1 to 3-nerved. The _third glume_ is ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, generally 5- to 7-nerved, paleate, usually male; _palea_ is lanceolate, equal to or slightly shorter than the glume. The _fourth glume_ is as long as the third with a broad hyaline margin, 5-nerved paleate; palea as long as the glume. _Anthers_ are three, yellow, _stigmas_ white, feathery and the styles shortly united at the base. _Lodicules_ are not present. This is the famous Kolakattai grass (Tamil) of the Coimbatore District and it grows in all kinds of soil and is capable of growing even when the soil is dry. It is readily eaten by cattle, sheep, goat and when once established is not easily killed out even by prolonged droughts. It is in flower in June, November and December. _Distribution._--Fairly common in South India and Western India. Said to occur in Tropical Africa also. There is a variety of this grass named _echinoides_. This differs from the type in the following respects--the inner bristles are united very much above the base and much thickened and stiffer than in the type. (See fig. 116-3) 10. Cenchrus, _L._ The inflorescences are spike-like racemes, consisting of involucellate clusters of shortly pedicelled spikelets jointed on a simple rachis. The involucel consists of hardened spike-like bristles connate at the base into a short coriaceous cup, which is surrounded by erect or squarrose bristles. Spikelets one to three in each involucel, persistent, 1- to 2-flowered, with three or four glumes. The first glume is very small or absent. The second and the third glumes are subequal 5- to 7-nerved. The third glume is longer than the second with male flower or not, paleate. The fourth glume is coriaceous, with a bisexual or female flower. Lodicules are two. Stamens are three. Styles are long, free or connate below. Grain is broad, oblong and compressed. KEY TO THE SPECIES Base of involucel rounded; inner bristles shorter, erect, not ciliate 1. C. biflorus. Base of involucel turbinate, inner bristles longer, spreading and spinescent, ciliate at base 2. C. catharticus. =Cenchrus biflorus, _Roxb._= This is an annual with erect simple stems, 6 to 24 inches long. The _leaf-sheath_ is glabrous or nearly so, with hairs at the mouth.