3.2.16 Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.
Perennial, rhizomatus grass, slender,erect
culms, height 70 cm-2 m. Leaf blades 14.5-33 cm in
length and0.8-1.2 mm in width, lanceolate in
shape, scaberous surface, membranous ligule,
sheath glaberous. Inflorescence: panicle, pyramidal
arrangement of branchlets, 18-27 cm in length and
2-17 cm in width. Branchlets having two types of
spikelets, sessile and pedicelled. Sessile spikelets
elliptical or ovate, 3-3.5 mm in length, hairy,
brownish in colour. Upper glume 2-3.5 mm in
length, 5-7 nerved, lower glume about the same
length as upper glume, 10 nerved, minute hair at
margins. Upper lemma acute, 2 lobed having an
awn extension 8-10 mm in length. Both lemmas
membranous, upper 3-3.5 mm in length while
lower lemma 2.5 mm in size. Palea ranging in size
from 2-2.7 mm. Anthers 1.5-1.8 mm in length,
orange yellow in coloure.
3.2.17 Brachiaria ramosa (Linn.)Griseb.
Annual grass, culms height 10-45cm in
length, leaf blades 4-11.5 cm in length, 6-15 mm in
width, lanceolate with scabrid margins, ligule 1
mm in length, leaf sheath glaberous from both
upper and lower side. Inflorescence: panicle 1.5-3.7
cm in length, triquetrous recaemes emerging,
spikelets cylindrical 2-3.5 mm in length and 1.5-1.8
mm in width, glaberous. Glumes size unequal,
upper glume, 7 nerved, pubescent, 2.5-3 mm and
lower glume 5-7 nerved, 1.5-2.5 mm in length.
Upper lemma 3 nerved, 2 mm in length, lower
lemma 5 nerved equal in length with upper
lemma, palea hyaline, membranous, 1.7 mm in
length. Anthers green in colour, 0.5 mm in length.
Brown stigma, 0.4 mm in length. Elliptical
caryopsis green, 0.9mm in size.
3.2.18 Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.
Annual grass, erect culms ranging in
height from 20-40 cm. Leaf blades 2-9 cm in length,
2.5-6 mm in width, smooth surface, wavy margins.
Ligule covered with minute hair. Sheath smooth
on upper side, hairy on lower side. Inflorescence:
panicle, 3-12 cm in length, ovoid involucre, spiny
with sticky bristles. Inner bristles larger then outer
bristles connate to form a disc enclosing the 3
spikelets. Spikelets ovate, equal in length, 5
nerved, 2-2.5 mm in length. 5 nerved,ovate lemma
with pointed end, 1.3-1.8 mm in length. Caryopsis
1.3 mm in length, ovate to elepsoidal in shape.
3.2.19 Cenchrus ciliaris Linn.
Perennial grass, culms height 6-20 cm.
Leaf blades 3-25 cm in length and 2-6 mm in width,
flat, with scaberous margins. Leaf sheath
glaberous. Membranous ligule. Inflorescence:
panicle, 5-10 cm in length, cyliderical in shape,
dark purple or light green in colour. Spikelets
covered by elongated involucres with long hairy
projections ( bristles). Inner bristle longer in size
then the spikelet. Two spikelets in 1 involucre,
spikelets ovate to lanceolate, 2.5-3.5 mm in length.
Glumes unequal, 1-3 nerved, ovate with acute
apices, upper glume 2-3 mm in length, while lower
glume 1.5-2.2 mm in length.. Floret enclosed by
lemma ovate in shape. Upper lemma 2-3.5 mm in
length, 5 nerved. Membranous, hyaline palea, 1.6-
1.8 mm in length. Size of anthers 0.6 mm, ovoid in
shape, brown in colour. Pistil 1.5-1.7 mm in length.
Style size 1.3-1.6 mm and stigma 1.3 mm in length.
Hard caryopsis, shiny, blackish brown, about 1
mm in length.
3.2.20 Cenchrus pennisetiformis hochst. & Steud.
Ex Steud
Annual grass, culms 5-45 cm tall, erect.
Leaf blades flat, 5-15 cm in length, 3-6mm in width.
Ligule membranous. Leaf sheath smooth. Elongate
involucre, 3-11 mm in length. 2-3 spikelets
enclosed in one cupulate involucres, inner bristles
shorter then spikelet. Spikelet size 4-6.5 mm in
length, ovate in shape. Glumes both ovate with
acute apices, 1 nerved, equal, almost 5mm in
length. 5 nerved, coriaceous lemma, ovate in
shape, 2-2.5 mm in size.
3.2.21 Cenchrus setigerus Vahl
Perennial grass, culms height 15-40 cm in
length. Leaf blades 2.5-10 cm in length and 1.5-2.5
mm in width. Membranous ligule. Sheath
glaberous with scabrid margins. inflorescence:
panicle, 2-6.5 cm in length, cylindrical, scaberous
appearance, cup shaped involucre, inner bristles
connate to form a cup. Inner bristles longer then
outer bristles. 3 spikelets in a single involucre.
Spikelets 2.5-4.5 mm in length. Lanceolate, glumes
ovoide and pointed, unequal, both 1 nerved.
Upper glume 1.5-2.3 mm in length, lower glume 1-
1.3 mm in length. Lemma enclosing the floret, 5
nerved, 1-1.9 mm in length. Palea membranous,
hyaline, also 5 nerved, more then half length of
lemma. Stigma 2-2.3 mm in length. Anthers orange
or violet in coloure. Caryopsis shiny, brown, 0.9-
1.2 mm in length.
3.2.22 Digitaria sanguinalis (Linn.)Scop.
Annual grass, culms prostrate, erect
upwards. Leaf blades lanceolate, scaberous surface,
3.5-12.3 cm in length, 2-3 cm in width,
membranous ligule, 2.3 mm in length.
Inflorescence: digitate having 3-5 raceames,
raceame 6-12.5 cm in length, triquetrous,Ovate spikelets 2-2.7mm in length. Both short pedical and
long pedical spikelets arranged in pairs, glumes
unequal, 3 nerved, upper glume 1.5-2.5mm long.
Lower glume 0.5-0.7mm in length. Upper and
lower lemma are equal in length with the spikelet,
3 nerved. Caryopsis ovoid with dark brown
coloration 1.1-.2.2 mm in size.
3.2.23 Setaria intermedia Roem. & Schult.
Annual grass, prostrate at the base with
extremity curving upwards, rooting at the nodes.
Culms 30-45 cm in length. Leaf blades linear,
scaberous at margins, ciliated surface, 4-16 cm in
length, 3-7 mm in width. Ligule, a ciliated fringe
1.8 mm in length. Inflorescence: Panicle, 3.5-8.6 cm
in length, lanceolate in shape with a scabrid rachis.
Eliptical spikelet 1.8-2.3 mm in length and 0.5 mm
in width. Glumes unequal, ovate in shape. Upper
glume 1.5-2 mm in length, lower one ranging in
length from 0.7-1.3 mm, 3 nerved. Upper lemma 3
nerved, lower five nerved 1.5-2 mm in length.
Upper palea ovate lower boat shaped and 2 keeled.
Elleptical caryopsis about 1.5 mm in size.
3.2.24 Setaria verticellata (Linn.) P. Beauv.
Annual grass, erect, culms 20-50 cm tall.
Leaf blades lanceolate, scabrid margins, Leaf blade
size 6-15cmin length, 2-10 mm in width. Leaf
sheaths glaberous. Ligule lacerate membranous, 1-
2.5 mm in length. Inflorescence: panicle, purplish
green in colour, 3-10 cm in length, hispid on rachis.
Spikelets with bristles at the base, 2-3 mm in
length,Spikelets oblong to ellipsoidal in shape,
about 2 mm in length. Glumes equal in size, about
1.5-2 mm in length, upper glume one nerved while
lower 3-5 nerved. Lemma membranous , 0.9-1.2
mm in length enclosing palea half of its length.
Anthers light yellow or whitish, about 0.5 mm in
length. Stigma black, 0.3 mm in length. Caryopsis
yellowish green, hard, 0.9 mm in length.
3.2.25 Avena fatua Linn.
Annual grass, culms 28-42 cm tall, erect or
geniculately ascending. Leaf blades 4-15.5 cm in
length, glaberous, scabrid at margins.
Membranous ligule 1.9-2.4 mm in length. Leaf
sheath glaucous. Inflorescence: Loose pendulous
panicle 10-14 cm in length. Spikelets 17-24.5 mm in
size. Glumes unequal, lanceolate, acute, 7 nerved.
Upper 16-19.5 mm and lower 13.5-16.5 mm in size.
Florets are marked by a horse shoe shaped scar at
the base. Lemmas lanceolate, 7 nerved, ciliated,
fringed with stiff hair, 2 toothed at apex, brown at
lower side and greenish towards the tip provided
with a 19-26.5 mm awn extension. Two keeled
palea about half the length of lemma. Caryopsis,
4.5-5.6 mm in size.
3.2.26 Phalaris minor Retz.
Annual, 23-56 cm long culms, prostrate at
base with extremity curving upwards. Leaf blades
rough surface, 2-3 cm in length, 0.4-0.6 mm in
width, rough surface. Membranous ligule 0.5-2
mm in length. glaberous on upper side, leaf sheath
membranous at margins. Inflorescence: Panicle,
pale green or light green in colour. Spikelets 6-8
mm, yellowish green in colour, Glumes equal with
dentate margins, pointed, winged, awnless 5.4-7.6
mm in length. Lemma hyaline, 2.4-3.1 mm in
length, ciliated at tips and margins, 5 nerved. Palea
smaller then lemma, lanceolate in shape. Anthers
white or light yellow in colour, 1.2 mm in length.
Style 1.7 mm in length, stigmas 1.3 mm in length.
Ovate caryopsis, brown in colour, pubescent and
shiny 2-2.5 mm in length.
3.2.27 Polypogon fugax Nees ex Steud
Annuals, Culms 22-65 cm tall, Prostrate at
the base with extremity curving upward, leaf
blades linear, 1.5-13 cm long, 1.2-9 cm broad,
smooth or with scabrid margins. Ligule
membranous 1-3.5 mm long. Panicle light green or
greenish yellow in colour, cylindrical with ovate or
oblong shape. Spikelets 1.2-2 mm in length.
Unequal glumes, ovate, grooved at the tip, margins
slightly hairy with long, fine, straight awn 3 mm
long. Glaucous lemma and pelea, Lemma 1.5-2.5
mm in length, palea 1.3-2.2 mm, toothed at tip.
Anthers whitish or pale in colour, 0.1 -0.5 mm long.
Caryopsis spheroidal or oval, 0.25-0.3 mm long.
3.2.28 Bromus pectinatus Thunb.
Annual grass, culms hight10-30 cm. Leaf
blades with ciliated surface, 4-15cm in length and
1.5-2.5 mm in width. Leaf sheath glaucous.
membranous ligule, about 2 mm in length.
Inflorescence: panicle 6-17 cm in length with 4-10
cm long raceames. Spikelets lanceolate, having 4-5
florets, 1-2 cm in length with pedical. Glumes
unequal, first glume lanceolate in shape, 5-7 mm in
length, 5-7 nerved, while 2nd glume 3-5 mm in
length, scabrid, narrower then the upper glume.
Pubescent, lanceolate lemma, toothed at apex, 6-8
mm in length, 7 nerved, having an awn extension,
7-12 mm in length. Pubescent, keeled palea, 5-8
mm in length. Anthers 1.3-1.9 mm in length.
3.2.29 Poa annua Linn.
Annual or short span perennial grass.
Culms 5-20 cm in length, erect, ganiculately
ascending, rooting from nodes. Leaf blades flat,
folded at younger stages, glaberous surface,
scabrid margins, 2.5-9 cm in length, 1-2 mm in
width. Membranous ligule 1-1.8 mm in length.
Leaf sheath with glaucous or glaberous surface.
Inflorescence panicle, pyramidal 3-8 mm in length.
Spikelets 2.8-5.6mm in length, lanceolate, pale
green in colour, 3 florets inside. Glumes unequal,
lanceolate or ovate