The _panicle_ is lanceolate, 8 to 24 inches, silky and the peduncle just below the panicle is softly silky, branches are whorled, three to five at a level, 2 to 4 inches long, rachis of the branches almost capillary, jointed and fragile, joints with long cilia at the back. The _spikelets_ are binate, one sessile and another pedicelled, both bisexual and alike, lanceolate, 1/8 to 1/6 inch long, callus is minute and bearded with spreading silky hairs 1/2 inch long. [Illustration: Fig. 129.--Saccharum spontaneum. 1. Two spikelets; 2, 3, 4 and 5. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively; 6. ovary, stamens and lodicules.] There are four _glumes_. The _first glume_ is lanceolate, subulate, acuminate, 2-nerved, flattened dorsally, coriaceous at the base and hyaline above it, and with smooth incurved margins. The second _glume_ is about equal to or slightly shorter than the first, lanceolate, acuminate, 1-nerved, keeled with an opaque base; margins and keel are ciliate with fine long hairs. The _third glume_ is hyaline, ovate-lanceolate, nerveless, acute, ciliate. The _fourth glume_ is very slender, ciliate, acuminate, paleate; _palea_ is minute, very variable. _Stamens_ are three. _Lodicules_ are cuneate or quadrate. The grain is very small, oblong. _Distribution._--This occurs all over India along the sides of the river. 20. Ischaemum, _L._ The grasses of this genus are either annuals or perennials. The inflorescence consists of spikes, solitary, digitate or fascicled, articulate and fragile; the joints of the floral axis and the pedicels of the pedicelled spikelets are trigonous and hollowed ventrally. Spikelets are binate, one sessile and one pedicelled; the pedicelled spikelets are dissimilar from the sessile and both usually 2-flowered. The sessile spikelets have four glumes. The first glume is coriaceous, oblong or lanceolate, convex more or less, marginally winged above the middle, truncate or two-cuspidate at the apex and awnless. The second glume is as long as the first, coriaceous, concave, acute or obtuse, awned or not. The third glume is hyaline, deeply cleft into two lobes with an awn in the cleft, and 3-nerved, paleate; palea is linear-lanceolate enclosing either stamens and ovary or ovary alone. Lodicules are cuneate or quadrate. KEY TO SPECIES. Racemes two or three; the first glume of the sessile spikelet dorsally flat, not channelled or depressed along the middle line. Margin of the first glume of the sessile spikelet incurved narrowly from the base to the apex. First glume of sessile spikelets with nodulose margins. 1. I. aristatum. First glume of sessile spikelets closely transversely ribbed. 2. I. rugosum. First glume of the sessile spikelet translucent, bicuspidate at the tip and with smooth margins. 3. I. pilosum.