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J AAO AR GA AAA A AAA AAA AAA AA COA A A A Al LAA AS AA AR tA autitas ha ‘ OF “) A:SSHITCHCOCK AND [2 AGNES:CHASE \ i Hey Hi i Wat, Yani tpl Nee hein a ae a W, wy Fh Fh aM i Na+ hetl 9 if, —_— : A sy ieee FODDER GRASSES OF NORTHERN INDIA. BY J. F. DUTHIE, B.A. F.LS., DIRECTOR, BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN; INDIA. ROORKEE: PRINTED AT THE THOMASON CIVIL ENGINEERING COLLEGE PRESS. = 1888. ROORKEE: THOS. D. BONA, SUPERINTENDENT, THOMASON COLLEGE PRESS. PREPAC i: I wave attempted in the following pages to give a short account of the more important kinds of grasses that are used in the plains of Northern India, either for fodder or forage. Several of the plains species extend up to considerable elevations on the Himalaya, but I have omitted all mention of those which are exclusively Hima- layan. The area of country to which this report refers, and which coincides with that over which my botanical investigations generally will in future be conducted, extends from the North-West frontier, and in- cludes the Punjab, the North-West Provinces and Oudh, Sindh, Raj- putana, Central India, and the Central Provinces. The books and pamphlets which have been specially consulted in the preparation of this work are:— Aitchison, Catalogue of Punjab and Sindh Plants. Atkinson, Economic Products of the N.-W. Provinces, Part VI. Baden Powell, Handbook of the Economic Products of the Punjab. Baker, Flora of the Mauritius and the Seychelles. Bentham, Flora Australiensis, Vol. VII. s Flora Hongkongensis. 0 Handbook of the British Flora. fe in Journ. Linn. Soc. Vol. XIX. (1882). Bentham and Hooker, f., Genera Plantarum, Vol. III. Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants. Boissier, Flora Orientalis, Vol. V. Brandis, Forest Flora of North-West and Central India. Cosson and Durieu, Flore d’ Algerie. De Candolle, L’Origine des Plantes Cultivées. Edgeworth, Catalogue of Plants found in the Banda District. x5 Botanico-Agricultural account of the protected Sikh States. Hooker, Student’s Flora of the British Islands. Jaub. and Spach, \cones Plantarum Orientalium. Iv 2 PREFACE. King, List of Plants in the Plains of the N..W. Provinces. Kunth, Enumeratio Plantarum. Inndley and Moore, Treasury of Botany. Mueller, Select Plants for Extra-tropical Countries. Munro, Monograph of the Bambusacee in Trans, Linn. Soc. Vol. - XXVI. Oliver, First Book of Indian Botany. Palisot de Beauvois, Agrostographie. Parlatore, Flora Italiana, Vol. I. Reichenbach, Icones Flore Germanice. Roxburgh, Flora Indica. foyle, Fibrous Plants of India. » Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalaya. Settlement Reports of districts in the Punjab. Simmonds, Tropical Agriculture. Steudel, Synopsis Plantarum Glumacearum. Stewart, Punjab Plants. Symonds, Indian Grasses. Thwaites, Enumeratio Plantarum Zeylania. Trinius, Species Graminum. | Vasey, The Agricultural Grasses of the United States (1884). Report on the Investigation of the Grasses of the Arid Dis- tricts of Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, 1886. A Report on certain Grasses and Forage Plants for Cultiva- tion in the South and South-West, 1887. | My annual visits to the Royal Botanical Gardens, near Calcutta, have been of much advantage, more particularly in connection with the strictly botanical portions of this work. In addition to an excellent library, there is the splendid herbarium in which grasses from all parts of India are largely represented. I wish to take this opportunity of expressing: my gratitude to Dr. King, the Director, for his generous help on every occasion of my visiting the garden. The Saharanpur herbarium now contains a very fair representative collection of Indian grasses. I have myself collected largely in the N.-W. Provinces, in Rajputéna, and Bundelkhand. I am also very greatly indebted to many contributors for valuable collections obtained from districts that I have not yet had opportunities of visiting. In this way some very useful collections have recently been procured for 33 9) PREFACE. v me through the kindness of the Conservators of Forests of the Punjab, Oudh, the Central Provinces, and Hyderabad. Separate collections were received from each of the following divi- sions :— Chanda.* Lahore. ee pe > ° e Pilibhit, Central Balaghat. Punjab Rawalpindi. Ouah. Kheri Provinces, ) Nagpur. ” ’) Mooltan. d a : Bhira. Seoni. Jhelum. To Mr, J. R. Drummond, B.A., C.S., I owe special thanks, not only for large donations of specimens, but for many notes and suggestions rendered all the more valuable by his sound knowledge of botany, and his intimate acquaintance with the vernacular dialects of the Punjab. To Mr. W. Coldstream, C.S., I am much indebted for kindly allowing me to make use of his valuable notes on the grasses of Hissar. From the Rev. A. Campbell of Manbhum, I have received valu- able collections of Chutia Nagpur grasses, together with a list of their vernacular names, many of which are in the Santali dialect. Mr. A. E. Lowrie, the officer in charge of the Ajmere and Merwara forests, has sent me a very complete collection of the grasses of that part of Rajputana, together with vernacular names and many useful _ notes. - From Capt. G. Wingate, Assistant Commissary General, I have frequently received grasses to be named ; and, as the specimens were mostly accompanied with their vernacular names, together with vari- ous notes, of which I have freely made use, these communications usually resulted to our mutual advantage. I profited in like manner by correspondence with Mr. J. McC. Douie, C.S., a few years ago when he was engaged in settlement work in the Karnél district. Col. D. M. Strong has also sent me for botanical identification sets of grasses from Beluchistan, Simla, and Allahabad. I am also indebt- ed to this gentleman for some interesting notes on Australian pasture grasses. | * This was a very fine collection, and appears to have been personally superintended during its preparation by Mr. G. Foster, the Deputy Conservator, to whom I am also in- debted for additional nutes subsequently contributed. VI PREFACE. Mr. A. Wingate, C.S., C.I.E., late of Udaipur, sent me a large and valuable collection of native-named fodder grasses from that district. I have received an interesting collection of grasses from the Salt Range, prepared by Dr. Warth, who has recently been investigating the coal resources of that district. Bhai Sadhu Singh, and Pundit Sundar Lal, forest officers attached respectively to the Jeypur and Patidla States, have each contributed useful collections accompanied with vernacular names. From the Commissariat Department, in addition to Capt. Wingate’s contributions, I have received native-named sets from Allahabad, Bareilly and Rawalpindi. Professor Hackel of St. Pilten, oe who is at present engaged in the preparation of a monograph of the grass family for the new edition of DeCandolle’s “ Prodromus,” has recently favoured me with many valuable notes on some specimens of Indian grasses despatched to him from the Saharanpur herbarium. I have by this means been able to give greater accuracy to the nomenclature of many of the species enumerated in the following pages. I wish also to acknowledge with gratitude the kind assistance rend- ered by Sir W. Davies, K.C.S.I., late Financial Commissioner of the Punjab, Mr. R. S. Whiteway, C.S. and Mr. C. G. Palmer, C.E., in the way of additions and corrections in the alphabetical list of vernacular names. This list, together with the equivalent botanical names, will, it is hoped, prove useful in facilitating the identification of many of the Indian grasses. Concerning the material which constitutes the main portion of the book, it will be found that the genera are arranged strictly in accord- ance with the “Genera Plantarum” of Bentham and Hooker, the species being placed alphabetically under each genus. The analytical table given on page xill is intended for the use of those persons who may wish to follow up the subject for themselves, and to acquire a more intimate knowledge of the genera of Indian QTASSES. A short glossary of the technical terms which occur in the deserip- tive portions of this work is given on page ix. There are many jungle plants not belonging to the grass family, which are readily eaten by cattle, and some of them are without doubt more nutritious than a large number of the grasses enumerated in this PREFACE. Vil work. They include trees, shrubs and herbs. The fodder-yielding trees and shrubs are especially useful during seasons of drought when her- baceous vegetation becomes scanty. Sufficient attention has not hitherto been given to this source of fodder supply, which is capable of being greatly developed. The economic value of trees and shrubs so far as they contribute towards the value of forests in the way of fuel, &e., has been toa great extent recognized, but no special measures have been undertaken to develop their capabilities for fodder purposes. Of the herbaceous vegetation a large number of plants belonging to other natural orders besides the Graminez are eaten by horses and cat- tle promiscuously along with the ordinary grasses. Those which are known to possess nutritious qualities should be encouraged ; for, in ad- dition to their value as forage, they no doubt, in many cases, serve to protect the roots of the grasses amongst which they grow, as well as to fil up what would be bare spaces if the ground supported only grass. Considering the importance of many of these non-gramineous fodder plants, e.g., babul (Acacia arabica), jhand (Prosopis spicigera), ber (Zi- zyphus nummularia), and a host of annuals, the subject is worthy, I think, of being specially investigated. The two parts of nature-printed illustrations will together form a convenient companion volume to this book. I am glad of another op- portunity of congratulating Mr. T. 1). Bona, the able Superintendent of the Thomason College Press, Roorkee, for the skill with which he has succeeded in producing so many faithful portraits. | The six plates included in this work were lithographed at the Thomason College Press from drawings copied by my draftsman, H. Hormusji, from figures in the “ Agrostographie” of Palisot de Beau- vois, from Reichenbach’s “Icones Flore Germanice,” and a few from Bentley’s and Trimen’s “ Medicinal Plants.” J. EF. Douruir. CONTENTS. PAGE Preface, Sec cas ove soa oe EEE Introduction, : Sc “6 1 Explanation of some of the Technical Terms as applied to the structure of Grasses, Pee) A Synopsis of the Genera occurring in the Plains of North- Western India, whe digs ves X1li Explanation of Plates,... wae : A i el Description of Species, 300 1 Note on Select Fodder Grasses, ... 12 List of Vernacular Names, oc 75 Appendix, 87 Index of Latin and English Names, ae 500 INTRODUCTION. Tue family Graminee, to which every kind of grass in the botanical sense belongs, is a very natural one; that is to say, the structural characters which distinguish it from other families are clearly defined. They also possess a superficial resemblance in common by which they can at once be identified as members of one family. Amongst the characters by which the various grasses may be distin- guished, the one from the other, are many which are sufficiently obvious to any observant person, and do not require any very special knowledge of botany to be recognized. Some, for instance, such as bamboos, have thick woody stems, and grow to the size of trees, whilst others are small and succulent, lasting only for one year or less from germination to the ripen- ing of the grain. The habit of growth is often a sufficiently distinguishing character; the long creeping stems of dub (Cynodon Dactylon), for in- stance ; and the tendency to climb which is the normal condition of Anthis- tiria scandens, Apluda aristata, and some others. The arrangement of the flowers, known technically as the inflorescence, offers many conspicuous distinctions which characterize genera, or groups of species. The presence or absence of hairs, bristles, or spines on or around the florets are Super- ficial characters and easily recognized, as also the colour of the pubescence whether white, reddish, or golden. Some species emit a sweet aromatic perfume; others are highly scented during the process of drying. Some kinds grow in isolated clumps, whilst others are gregarious, extending over large areas in the form of pasture. Some grasses are found only near water; others appear to prefer dry sandy ground. Clay soils and calcare- ous soils have each their characteristic species ; and certain kinds appear to flourish better in shady places. The distribution of particular species over wide areas of country is large- ly due to agricultural extension, for certain kinds are nearly always to be found associated with cultivated crops. A knowledge of the habitat of a plant is very frequently of great assistance towards its identification. The occurrence of certain kinds of grasses in particular Jocalities is determined to a great extent by climate; some species, and often entire genera, being restricted to the plains, whilst others cannot exist below cer- tain elevations on the hills. Excessive moisture influences to a great C li INTRODUCTION. extent localization of certain species; thus, the majority of the grasses in- habiting the damper eastern parts of Northern India are not to be found in the comparatively rainless tracts to the west, where the climate on the other hand appears to determine the existence of certain species character- istic of desert countries. | As regards the grasses of the plains, it will be found that those inhabit- ing North-Western and Central India, are more nutritious than those of Bengal and Burma. Excessive and continuous moisture, combined with a high temperature, tends to increase luxuriant growth, but the nutritive properties are expended in the formation of rankness. It may be stated in a general way that the best fodder grasses are to be found, and occur in greater abundance, where the climate approaches most to that of a tem- perate one. There is nothing in the plains of India, for instance, to com- pare with the richness of the pasture land which exists on the higher slopes of the Himalaya. The vast stretches of undulating meadows, known as “maidans,’* and which extend from the upper limits of the forests to the Snow line, are composed of many of the most nutritious grasses of the world, some of them belonging to species well-known in Europe for their good grazing qualities. ) In order to acquire a sufficient knowledge so as to be able to distinguish one species of grass from another it will be necessary to learn something about the structure of the flowers, the minuteness of which, in many in- stances, constitutes the main difficulties of the study, considerable patience and close observation being required. The following is a brief general description of the grass family :—Roots fibrous. Stems herbaceous, annual or perennial, round or compressed, erect, decumbent, or creeping and rooting at the nodes, hollow except at the joints. Leaves alternate, usually long and narrow, parallel-veined and entire, the lower portion embracing the stem in the form of a sheath which is split down on the side opposite to that where the free portion, or blade of the leaf, is given off. At the top of the sheath, and within the base of the blade, is a small scarious or hairy appendage called the ligule. The arrangement of the flowers, or inflorescence, is nearly always terminal, and the spikelets composing the inflorescence are variously arranged in panicles, racemes, spikes, or heads. Each spikelet (see adjoining figure) * These maidd4ns support the life of vast numbers of wild grass-eating animals, such as the burrel, for instance, whose flesh at the proper season of the year is equal to, if not better than, the finest mutton. They are also largely made use of by the Himalayan villagers, who annually, during the summer months, drive their cattle to these high pas- tures. t+ Copied from Oliver’s First Book of Indian Botany. oa INTRODUCTION. » lil consists of three or more chaff-like scales, called glumes, of which the two | outer, or lowest, are usually empty, and are differ- ently shaped fromthe others. The third and suc- ceeding glumes, if there be more than three, are ‘the flowering glumes, each of which normally con- tains a small scale, usually transparent and with two usually only two, called lodicules, and three sta- mens, rarely more or less, with long filaments, supporting anthers which are attached by their middle (versatile). In the centre, surrounded by the stamens and lodicules, is the ovary, 1-celled, and containing a single ovule. At the top of the ovary are the two feathery styles. The grain, 2.¢., or outer skin of the grain. The embryo lies at one side at the base of the seed, and is surrounded by a thick farinaceous substance known as albumen or perisperm. The above are some of the prevailing characters of the family, but there are many exceptions; for instance, the stems of some of the perennial kinds become woody, as in bamboos, many of which attain to the size of trees, and their stems are frequently solid throughout. The greatest variation occurs in the structure of the spikelets. They are sometimes monececious, as in Indian corn, which bears male and female clusters of spikelets on different portions of the plant. The spikelets may be 1-flow- ered (Plate E., Fig. 27), or 2-or more-flowered (Plate H., Fig. 26a, and Plate ¥., Fig. 29a). The florets of each spikelet may be perfect (Plate A., Fig. 1e), i.e., with both stamens and pistil, or with only one set of or- gans (unisexual) (Plate A., Fig. 6a), or without either stamens or pistil (neuter); and sometimes without even the pale, in which case the floret is represented by a single scale or glume. In the same spikelet there may be both perfect and imperfect florets (Plate A., Fig. 5,6). In rice the lower empty glumes are minute, or reduced to bristles. In Panicum the outer empty glume is usually very much smaller than the other (Plate A., dig. 4), whilst in Paspalum it is wanting altogether. The midrib of some of the glumes, usually the flowering one, is often furnished with a bristle, extending either from the tip or from its back; this when of a certain length is called an awn (Plate E., Figs. 25 and 26). These awns must be carefully distinguished from other bristles which often occur at the base of the spikelets in the form of an involucre. The true awn is represented iV INTRODUCTION. in many species of Andropogon, in barley, oats, and in the bearded varie- ties of wheat. Examples of the involucral bristles occur in the genera ~ Pennisetum, and Setaria, to which bajra and kangni respectively belong. The stamens, which are normally three in number, are sometimes reduced to two (Plate B., Fig. 10, Plate D., Fig. 21, Plate H., Fig. 23), or one, whilst in rice there are as many as six (Plate B., Fig. 7, 6). Toe Nutritive vaLtur or Inpian @Rrasses.—Very little is known regarding the actual feeding value of our commonest fodder grasses. ‘What we do know is chiefly of a relative nature. Close enquiry amongst graziers and intelligent zamindars indicates in a general kind of way what are the best available grasses in any one district, but the opinions obtained from different districts are often very contradictory. For in- stance, a particular kind of grass may be highly valued in one part of India and despised elsewhere. Many widely distributed species do, no doubt, vary in actual nutritive value according to the climate, It may also happen, that the actual value of any particular grass remaining constant, its relative value varies in proportion to the general standard of excellence attained by the grasses of different districts. In these and many other cases the only sure method of ascertaining the true value of grasses is by chemical analysis, A large portion of an analyst’s work would tend to confirm by rational methods, the facts which had been empirically ascer- tained. His original investigations would lead him to discover to what extent the variations of climate and soil tend to alter the nutritive value - of certain grasses. There are many grasses in India, which, on account of their being sparingly distributed, have hitherto been more or less over- looked. By chemical analysis the intrinsic nutritive value of many of these rarer species might very possibly be found equal to that of the best’ known fodder grasses. Such kinds, however, to be rendered practically useful, would have to be encouraged by cultivation, or by special means of protection ; for the value of any particular grass for fodder or forage pur- poses does not, after all, depend so much on its nutritive qualities as on its being available in sufficient quantity. The prevailing spontaneous species of a district will, as a rule, therefore, be found to head the list in regard to utility. Grass Resrrves.—In a general way it is found that the periodical protection of grass lands has a direct advantage. Many of our most nutritious perennial grasses manage to exist on ground which presents a most unpromising appearance. They seem to have acquired the power of adapting themselves to withstand the trying effects of long-continued droughts, and the unrestricted cropping by goats and other animals, Nevertheless, they possess capabilities of vigorous growth, and respond INTRODUCTION. Vv immediately under the influence of favouring conditions, whether natural or artificial. Of the natura] incentives to recuperative growth the most beneficial is seasonable rainfall. In the case of large areas of grass land, the only way in which we can assist nature during the critical periods of deficient rainfall, is by preventing indiscriminate grazing. The effects of over-grazing are not only directly injurious to grass vegetation, but indi- rectly in consequence of the destruction of young trees and shrubs, under the shade of which many kinds of grasses find sufficient protection to be available as fodder long after every blade, not so protected, is shrivelled up and destroyed. Before proceeding to make arrangements for the formation of grass reserves, it should first of all be ascertained whether the existing grasses are of sufficient value as fodder or forage to justify the cost of such protection. Every grass reserve should contain a large per- centage of the best of the prevailing indigenous species of the district, rather than be stocked with introduced kinds, however superior they may prove to be in other localities. Attention should also be directed to the extension of all the really good local kinds in the place of useless or noxi- ous weeds. There are certain tracts of country, however, where the na- tural or indigenous grasses are found to be very deficient in nutritive value, and which can be advantageously replaced by superior kinds intro- duced from other countries. In New Zealand, for instance, I am told that an acre of land, where only the indigenous grasses exist, will support only one sheep; whereas three to six, or more, can be maintained on an acre which has been sown with grass seed introduced from Europe. Tue PREsERVATION oF FoppER.—During ordinary seasons, when the rainfall is up to the average, the yield of fodder throughout Northern India, in the form of grass alone, must be very largely in excess of actual requirements. A very large portion, however, of the spontaneous or indigenous fodder supply is practically unavailable for the same reason that the value of the produce of some forests diminishes according to the distance to the nearest suitable market. Nevertheless, many outlying grass tracts can be utilized to some extent by driving the cattle to such places for grazing purposes; in fact there are certain classes of graziers, who both in the plains and on the hills habitually migrate with their herds to distant localities during the different seasons of the year. Notwithstand- ing this, there must be a very large quantity of good grass which is never grazed nor cut for fodder. During seasons of long continued drought the whole of the spontaneous growth of grass within the area affected is sud- denly checked, and the supply of fodder from this source becoming reduced to a minimum the usual results take place, viz., the loss or impoverish- ment of an immense number of cattle. The custom of migrating from one vi INTRODUCTION. part of the country to another in search of fodder is a remnant of primitive times, when whole tribes of people, and even nations, led a nomadic life for the purpose of obtaining food and fodder for themselves and their beasts. The adoption of agricultural pursuits gradually led to the estab- — lishment of permanent settlements, and to the localization of agricultural produce by cultivation. The advantages acquired by civilized nations after generations of cumulative experience ought in these days to be applied, as far as can be, towards regulating the supply of fodder in India, and to secure its being continuously available during good and bad sea- sons alike. The condition of grass lands which are protected merely to prevent destructive grazing is, during exceptionally severe droughts, very little better than that of the open and unprotected tracts, the only differ- ence being that the evil effects of the drought are not so soon apparent — in the case of the protected reserves owing to the more luxuriant growth of the vegetation. What is really required, and more particularly in those districts which are subject to periodical droughts, is the adoption of an extensive system of preservation of grass in the form of compressed fodder or silage; and, where irrigation can be secured, the cultivation of Suitable fodder piants, either indigenous or introduced, would yield a valuable reserve during times of scarcity. The stacking of hay, which is a form of compressed fodder, is undertaken more or less in certain parts of Northern India, but the object in most instances is merely to prepare a sufficient quantity for use during the cold weather months. Many of the Indian grasses when stacked will retain their nutritive properties for several years; encouragement should, therefore, be given to bring about a much more extensive system of stacking, so that the excess of fodder yielded during good seasons may be rendered available during times of scarcity. There is one drawback to the production of really good hay in this country, and that is, the difficulty of drying the various grasses at the time when they ought to be cut. The majority of the indigenous species of Indian grasses flourish during the rainy season, and some of the best kinds have flowered and are ripening their seed by the time that the rains are well over; and as it is well known that the stems and leaves of grasses attain their maximum nutritive value during the period of flowering, it would appear to be greater economy to cut the rainy season grasses at that time, and to preserve it as silage. There are a few indigenous grasses, and many other kinds might be intro- duced from other countries, which would thrive under cultivation in the eli- mate of Northern India as winter grasses. These would come to the flower- ing stage at a time when the weather would admit of their being made into excellent hay, and a certain amount of valuable fodder would thus be ren- INTRODUCTION. Vil dered available throughout the hot weather months. In the United States, - the climate of the southern parts of which is somewhat similar to that of Northern india, these winter grasses are very advantageously made use of. In the introduction to my “ List of the Grasses of North-Western India,” published in 1883, I remarked :—“ Necessity in future years will no doubt bring about a more careful consideration of what is now being adopted with so much success in Europe and America, viz., the preservation of fod- der by the process of ensilage. The art of preserving fodder is capable of much development, and when brought more into practice, new pro- cesses, will no doubt be discovered, which will render its application more simple, and with certain modifications, more suitable for its adop- tion in this country.’ Within the last few years ensilage operations have been extensively undertaken all over India, and with so much suc- cess, that silage may now be considered as a safe and valuable form of food for cattle. The last sentence of the above quotation reads almost like a prophecy in the light of Mr. Arthur Rogers’ happy idea of utilizing the cotton presses of the country for compressing fodder. The many adyant- ages which this process possesses in the direction both of economy and efficiency have been so recently made public, that it is needless to recapitu- late them here. For military purposes, especially in war time, fodder prepared in this way will no doubt be largely used in future; and the diffi- culties which have hitherto been experienced in procuring at certain sea- sons of the year a sufficient quantity of cut grass for cavalry horses should now be very considerably lessened. I have not alluded to the interesting experiments which, within the last few years, have been undertaken with the object of utilizing the grass of cantonment lands. Operations were first commenced in 1883 at Alla- habad under the direction of the late General Sir Herbert Macpherson, and, the results proving so satisfactory, the system was extended to Cawn- pore. Sir H. Macpherson was assisted by Capt. G. Wingate, Assistant Commissary General, who has submitted detailed reports of the operations at both these military stations. Important and interesting results have also been obtained by General Wilkinson at Calcutta, more especially as regards the preservation of fodder. Capt. Wingate has again, I believe, been placed on special duty in connection with Grass Farms, and reports indicating further progress will no doubt be forthcoming. EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE TECHNICAL TERMS AS APPLIED T0 THE STRUCTURE OF GRASSES, Acuminate.—Tapering gradually to a point. Adnate.— Partially or wholly united. Amplexicaul.—Applied to sessile leaves, bracts or glumes, which clasp the stem or rachis at their base. Androgynous.—Composed of both male and female florets. Appressed.— Lying flat against or together for the whole length. _ Articulate.—J ointed. Auricled.—With rounded ear-like projections. , Awn.—A bristle-like hair proceeding either from the summit or - from the back of a glume. Bract.—Applied usually to leaf-like organs situated between the foliage leaves and the flowers. In grasses they are usually the uppermost leaves surrounding the clusters of spikelets or each separate spikelet, and are either spathe-like, as in Apluda and Anthistiria, or setiform, as _. Setaria and Pennisetum. Cleft.—Cut about half way down. Collateral.—Standing side by side. Confiuent.—Blended into one, or passing by degrees the one into the other. Connate.—-Applied to pairs of leaves or bracts which are opposite and amplexicaul. Dichotomous.— Forked in pairs. Digitate.—Applied to two or more terminal spikes radiating from one point. Distichous.—Disposed in two vertical ranks, Dorsal.—Referring to the back or outer side of a glume. Fasciculate.—In clusters. _— Flowering glume.—The glume opposite to the pale, and which with it, encloses the true floret. | Glumes.—Chaff-like bracts enclosing the florets of a spikelet. D Xie GLOSSARY. Grain.—The mature fruit. Hermaphrodite.—A pplied to a floret which has both stamens and pistil. _- Heterogamous.— Bearing two kinds of florets. * _ Homogamous.—Applied to a spikelet containing one kind of floret, either male or female. Hyaline.—Thin and transparent. Inbricate.—Overlapping like the tiles on a roof. Inflorescence.--The arrangement of the spikelets on the flowering stem. Internodes.—Portions of the stem or rachis between each node or joint. Involucre.—A. collection of two or more bracts surrounding the base of a spikelet. | Lanceolate.—Shaped like a lance. Ligule.—A thin scarious projection from the summit of the sheath of a leaf. - Lodicules.—Minute scales situated outside the stamens, usually 2-3 in number, but sometimes wanting. Membranous.—Thin and soft. Mucronate.—Abruptly tipped with a short point. . Nodes.—The thick solid part of the stem from which the leaves take their rise; also applied to the joints of a rachis. Ovoid.—Higg-shaped, but with the broad end downwards. | Pale.—Usually a thin almost transparent scale opposite to and a~ little higher on the axis than the flowering glume. Panicle.—Like a raceme, but the pedicels are branched. _ Pedicel.—The ultimate branch of an inflorescence supporting a spikelet. Peduncle.—The main stem of an inflorescence up to the first or lowest branch. Beyond this is the main rachis. Pericarp.—The fructified ovary. Perennial.—Lasting year after year. Raceme.—Like a spike, but with pedicelled or stalked florets. Rachilla.—The axis of a spikelet. Rachis.—The main axis of an inflorescence. Rudimentary.— Undeveloped or abortive. Secund.—Directed to or facing one side. Sessile.— Without a stalk. Spicate.—Arranged in a spike. Spike.—A collection of sessile spikelets on a common rachis. GLOSSARY. xi Spikelet.cOne or more florets enclosed within one or more pairs of empty glumes. ~ Stipe.—A stalk, “a Stipiform.—Stalk-like. Subulate.—Awl-shaped. Terete.— Cylindrical, Thyrsus.—An ovate panicle. Unisexual.— Having flowers of one sex only. Verticillate.— When the spikelets are in whorls or verticils. ni aie A SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA OCCURRING IN THE PLAINS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA, SERIES A. Panicaceze.—Pedicel jointed below the spikelet or eluster of spikelets. Fertile floret solitary (except in Zsachne) and _terminal, with sometimes a sa single male or sterile one below it. si “TRIBE I. Panicee. —Spikelets hermaphrodite, in spikes or panicles; rachis of inflorescence not jointed; flowering glume not awned, becoming hard as the grain ripens. * Panicle spike-like, spikes simple or digitate or more or less scattered along a common peduncle. Pedicels not jointed. Spikelets in one or two rows on one side of the flat- tened rachis of each spike. Each spikelet consists of » % one perfect flower enclosed within the two membran- _ ous outer glumes. Flowering glume hard and thick embracing the hard and thick pale. (Kodon, &c.). UGE SLT PASPATUNG, Oo Lee Inflorescence paniculate, branches simple and spike- like. Glumes as in Paspalum, but attached to a thick- gaat of the pedicel above the joint. ia ERIOCHLOA, p. 2. Panicle spreading. Spikelets 2-flowered, small. Glumes 4, the two lower empty ones nearly equal and usually persistent below the joint, the two upper fruiting ones equal and hardening. ISACHNE, p. 2. Inflorescence usually paniculate, simple or compound, rarely reduced to a simple spike. Spikelets small, 1-flowered or with a male floret below it. Outer glumes 2, of which one is usually much smaller or even wanting. Grain enclosed in the hardened glume and pale. (Sdiwak, china, Guinea grass, &.). (Vide Plate A., Figs. 1 to 4). PANICUM, p. 3. Panicle branches simple, scattered, secund. Spikelets XiV SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. clustered, on one side of the rachis. Glumes 4, the two lower empty ones awned. | OPLISMENUS, p. 18. Spikelets in a dense cylindrical spike or narrow thyrsus, furnished with stiff persistent bristles (sterile branch- lets) on the pedicels below the joint. (Kangni, &c.). + SETARIA, p. 14. ** Inflorescence spicate. Pedicels jointed below a bristly or scaly involucre which encloses 1—3 spikelets. Involucre double, the outer whorl composed of stiff | bristles, the inner of hard scales connate at the base. Crencurus, p. 15. Involucre composed of weak simple or feathery bristles. (Dhdman or anjan, bajra, &c.). (Vide Plate A., Fig. 5). PENNISETUM, p. 16. TRIBE II. Maydez.—Spikelets unisexual, Male florets in terminal spikes. Female florets in spikes at the lower nodes, or in a separate inflorescence, ultimately breaking up at the jointed nodes (except in Zea). * Spikes with the male spikelets attached to the upper nodes, and the female spikelets solitary or in pairs at the base of the spike. Spikes stalked, female spikelets 1—2 at the base of the spike. Bract, sheathing, ultimately enclosing the grain and becoming globose and stone-like. Tall peren- nial grasses, usually growing in or near water. (Vide Plate A., Fig. 6). a o1x, p. 18. Spikes projecting from a sheathing bract. Female spike- lets 1-flowered, at the base of the spike. Outer empty glume globose or ovoid, thick and stony, enclosing the spikelet. Habit similar to that of Coca. | CHIONACHNE, p. 19. ** Male spikes many, in a terminal panicle; female axillary and sessile. Female spikes fasciculate within the sheaths of the leaves, each spike partially enclosed within a large bract. Spikelets in a single row. A tall succulent annual introduced from Mexico. ( Zéosinteé). EvcuHuzna, p. 19. Female spikes axillary, very large, and enveloped in leafy Aca \ + oq X w SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. XV bracts; the spikelets densely packed in many rows on a thick spongy rachis. (Jndian corn). ZEA, p. 19. TRIBE III. Oryzez.—Spikelets in panicles, not articulated with the rachis. Pales 0. Glumes 2, lower one awned. Stamens 6. An aquatic species, often floating on the surface of the water. Hy@roruiza, p. 20. Glumes 4, the two outer minute or setiform, the upper inner ones (the pales of some authors) rigid, the outer of which is sometimes awned, Stamens 6. (ice). (Vide Plate B., Fig. 7). Oryza, p. 20. Glumes 2, membranous, not awned. Stamens 6 or fewer. LEErsta, p. 21. TRIBE IV. Tristegineze.—Spikelets jointed with the pedicel, hermaphrodite, solitary, in pairs, or fasciculate. Flowering glumes hyaline or membranous, awnless or with a bent awn. Spikelets crowded or in fascicles along the branchlets of the panicle, 1-flowered. Glumes 4, the two lowest empty, pointed; the third one empty or enclosing a male floret. Glume of fertile floret with a twisted awn bent near the middle. ARUNDINELLA, p. 21. Panicle loose, branches and pedicels slender. Glumes 4, the outer one with a ring of hairs at its base, second silky hairy on the back and with a long slender awn between the teeth, terminal one much shorter and awnless. RHYNCHELYTRUM, p. 21. Spikelets very small, arranged in fascicles on the nu- merous long branchlets of the large panicle. Glumes 4, not awned. A tall handsome grass with broad leaves. ean THYSANOLENA, p. 21, TRIBE V. Zoysieze.—Spikelets hermaphrodite, or a few of them imperfect. Pedicels singly scattered or alternate along the inarticulate rachis of the spike. - - Spikelets in clusters of 83—5, arranged all round the axis of the simple compact spike, the terminal one sterile. Glumes 2—3, lowest one very small or want- ing; upper larger, stiff, and covered on the back with XVI SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. hooked bristles. A small erect annual. (Vide Plate | a B.. Fig. 8). : Traq@us, p. 21. Spikelets in a lax raceme, solitary or rarely in pairs on each pedicel, small, and stalked. Glumes 3, lowest stiff, deeply concave and muricate on the back. A small rigid annual. Latrpss, p. 22, Spikelets in a long slender spike-like raceme, nearly sessile. Glumes 38, the two lower ones linear, stiff, — with slender terminal awns. (Vide Plate B., Fig. 9). PEeRoris, p. 22. — TRIBE VI. Andropogones.—Spikelets in pairs at each node of the articulate rachis of the spike or of the panicle branches, or in triplets at the end of each branch, more or less surrounded by long silky hairs. “ Inner glume under the fertile floret smaller and thinner than the lower or outer empty ones, _ * The two spikelets of each pair hermaphrodite. Inflores- ~~ cence pariculate. + Panicle branches not jointed. Spikelets of each pale un- equally pedicelled. Spikelets in a dense cylindrical spike-like panicle clothed with silvery white hairs. None of the glumes awned. Stamens 2, A perennial occurring usually on wet or undrained soil. (Vide Plate B., Fig. 10). IMPERATA, p. 22. Spikelets in a loose panicle. Flowering glume awned. Stamens 8. A tall perennial grass. Miscantuvs, p. 28. ++ Panicle branches jointed. Spikelets of each pair the one sessile and the other stalked. Spikelets small in a dense compound usually large pani- (1) cle. Glumes without awns. Tall grasses with thick woody ste stems, and ‘panicles densely clothed with silky hairs. (Sugarcane, munj grass, &c.). SACCHARUM, p. 28. Inflorescence asin Saccharum. Flowering glume awned. (Vide Plate B., Fig. 11). ERIANTHUS, p. 26. Panicle loose; branches short, ending in 3 spikelets, with occasionally one or two pairs below, as in Chry- SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. XVli sopogon. Third glume sometimes enclosing a male floret. Terminal fertile glume awned. SPODIOPOGON, p. 26. Spikelets in pairs on the simple panicle branches. Branches of panicle spike-like, 2 or more, digitate or scattered along the main rachis. (Bhdbar grass, &c.). PoLLInia, p. 26. Spikelets on a single spike. Second empty glume and flowering glume awned. A slender much branched or- namental grass, common on rocks. PoGoNATHERUM, p. 27. Spikes slender, solitary or in clusters. Glumes 4, the two lower ones narrow and rigid. Flowering glume awned. Stamens 2. babs Cis ~Dimerta, p. 27. 1 ** The second spikelet of each pair reduced to a stipiform “rudiment. Inflorescence as in Pollinia. "Spikelets 1 usually subdigitate, slender. Flowering glume with a dorsal awn from near the base. Leaf blades cordate lanceolate. ARTHRAXON, p. 27. ae eR ‘Spikelets in simple spikes, in pairs at each notch or excavation of the rachis, the one sessile and the other stalked. Flowering glume not awned. ~ ‘Spike densely clothed with long silky hairs, ALOE as in Hottbellia. ELIONURUS, p. 28. Spike terete. Spikelets smooth, one sessile and fertile, - the other stalked and sterile. RoTTBaLLIA, p. 28. Spike terete. Spikelets all sessile, solitary, or in -palrs). at the lower part of the spike. OPHIURUS, p. 29.. Spike subterete. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile fertile and globose, the other stalked and sterile. A much branched usually hairy annual. (Vide Plate B., Fig. 12). ManiIsvuris, p. 29. Spike compressed, imperfectly jointed. Spikelets in . pairs, one sessile and fertile, the other stalked and E Ayia? XVill SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. sterile. Pedicels usually adnate to the rachis. (Vide Plate C., Fig. 18). HEMARTHRIA, p. 80. — ee Spikelets of each pair bearing two kinds of florets. Plowere glume of the fertile one usually awned. + Spikelets in many pairs along the rachis of the simple spikes or panicle branches. Spikes 2—3, rarely solitary. The sessile spikelets have a male floret below the terminal fertile one. | Iscoazmum, p. 30. Spike solitary. Spikelets 1-flowered, appressed, imbri- cate. Sessile florets of each pair fertile, all facing one side, their flowering glumes with a long twisted awn. — Stalked florets male or sterile, not awned. (Spear grass). HETEROPOGON, p. 32. Spikes solitary, in pairs, or several. Sessile spikelet of each pair fertile and with a long twisted awn; the stalked spikelets sterile, not awned. Pale small or none. (Khas-khas, palwa, &c.) (Vide Plate C., Figs. 14 to 16). ANDROPOGON, p. 33. +t Spikelets in triplets at the ends of the panicle branches, or in dense clusters. Spikelets in triplets on the jointed branchlets of the panicle; central one sessile and fertile, the two lateral ones stalked and sterile with occasionally 1—8 addi- tional pairs below. (Vide Plate D., Fig. 17). CHRYSOPOGON, p. 89. Spikelets as in Chrysopogon, but the panicle branches are scarcely jointed, and the ovate outer glume of the fertile spikelet becomes hard. (Judr). (Vide Plate D., Fig. 18). Soreuum, p. 40. Spikes or clusters arranged on a leafy panicle, and composed of seven or more spikelets, four of these, 7.e., two pairs, which are either empty or contain male florets, surround the three terminal spikelets in the form of an involucre. Terminal spikelets stalked, the central one fertile, the two lateral ones nan sterile. (Vide Plate D., Fig. 19). ANTHISTIRIA, p. 42. nS * — SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. xix Clusters small glabrous. Spikelets more or less stalked and, as well as the clusters, enclosed within sheathing bracts. IsEILEMA, p. 43. Spikelets with one fertile floret and a male one below it, sessile between two flattened pedicels each bearing a rudimentary or barren spikelet, the whole embraced by a sheathing bract, the bracts clustered on the branch- es of a leafy panicle. Terminal glume of fertile floret usually awned. (Vide Plate D., Fig. 20). ApLuDA, p. 44. SERIES B. Poaceze,—Pedicel continuous below the glumes (ex- cept in Crypsis and Alopecurus). Rachilla often jointed above the persistent lower glumes, and sometimes produced beyond the fertile florets in the form of a stipe. Male or rudimentary florets, when present, above the fertile one. coanekits | ‘TRIBE VIL. Phalarides. —Each spikelet contains one termi- nal hermaphrodite floret. Glumes 6 (or 5 and a pale) ; lowest pair empty, usually persistent below the joint; second pair (above the joint) usually empty and small, and often reduced to a bristle; upper pair, enclosing the terminal fertile floret and grain, without any continuation of the rachilla above it. * Two empty glumes below the joint. Spikelets in a dense spike-Jike panicle or thyrsus. The two inferior glumes largest, flat, and often with a winged keel; second pair narrow or reduced to bristles; upper pair thin and transparent. (Canary grass, &c.) PHALARIS, p. 45. ** No glumes under the joint. Spikelets in a dense head surrounded by 2—8 sheath- ing bracts. Receptacle broadly convex. Glumes 4, not awned. Stamens 2. A small diffuse grass with short stiff leaves. (Vide Plate D., Fig. 21). CrYpsis, p. 45. Spikelets in a dense cylindrical spike-like panicle; recep- tacle linear. Glumes 3 or 4, the outer ones larger, boat- shaped and keeled on the back. Pale and lodicules none. Stamens 3. (Vide Plate D., Fig. 22). ALOPECURUS, p. 46. X¥ SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. TRIBE VIII. Agrostidesze. —Spikelets 1-flowered. Rachilla ~~ the floret. "Flowering Pa with or ribet an awn. Pales. 2-nerved, usually thin and transparent. Panicle lax. Spikelets cylindrical. Flowering glume with a terminal 3-fid awn, rigid, and closely investing the grain when mature. Slender feather-like grasses with very narrow leaves.. _ | ARISTIDA, pe 46. Panicle spike-like, densely cylindrical or ovoid, stalked or sessile within the upper sheaths. Flowering glume blunt, loosely covering the grain. Habit of Crypsis. (Vide Plate E., Fig. 23). HELEOOHLOA, p. 48. Spikelets in lax or in spike-like panicles, minute. Flowering glumes not awned. Grain usually exposed and falling readily from the glumes. Pericarp often quite loose. (Usar grass, &c.) (Vide Plate H., Fig. 24). SPOROBOLUS, p. 48. Spikelets in a dense spike-like panicle. Outer empty glumes narrow, keeled, and ending:in a fine straight awn. Flowering glumes shorter, with or without an awn. Grain enclosed within the fruiting glume. (Vide Plate E., Fig. 25). PoLyPoGon, p. 50. TRIBE IX. Avenez.—Inflorescence loosely paniculate. Spike- lets with two or more perfect florets. Rachilla produced _be- youd the upper floret. Flowering glume with a twisted or bent awn, which is either dorsal, or terminal between two teeth. Florets hermaphrodite, or the upper one male. Awn of flowering glume dorsal. Flowering glume rounded on the back, many-nerved. Ripe grain furrowed in front, more or less adhering to the pale. (Oats), (Vide Plate E., Fig. 26). AVENA, p. 51. Spikelets in threes at the ends of the panicle branches, 2-flowered. Lower floret male, upper hermaphrodite or female. Awn of flowering glume terminal between the two lobes. TRISTACHYA, p. 51. SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. XXxi TRIBE X. Chloridez.—Spikelets 1—many-flowered, sessile, __arranged in two rows along the rachis of the unilateral spike. Rachis neither jointed nor notched (as in tribe Horde). In- florescence similar to that of Paspalum. Lowest or single perfect floret hermaphrodite. Awn when present terminal and straight, not dorsal or twisted as in Avenew. Rachilla usually produced beyond the florets. * One fertile floret in each spikelet, rarely two. Spikes at the summit of the peduncle, 1--4. Spikelets with long capillary awns. Rachilla not produced beyond the florets. Flowering glume much shorter than the empty ones. SCHENEFELDIA, p. 52. Spikes 2—6 slender, digitate at the summit of the pedun- cle. Spikelets small, 1-flowered, without awns. Ra- chilla produced beyond the floret into a small point or bristle. (Dub grass). (Vide Plate E., Fig. 27). Crnopon, p. 52. Spikes usually crowded at the summit of the peduncle, or in verticils, Flowering glume with a few empty ist glumes above it, usually awned, 1—3-nerved. Cuoris, p. 53. Spikelets forming numerous short scattered clusters which fall off at the joints. The two lower empty glumes are clothed with long feathery hairs. Flower- ing glume with three awns. Upper empty glumes decreasing in size upwards. A small elegant an- nual. MELANOCENCHRIS, p. 54. ** Two or more fertile florets in each spikelet. Spikes 1—3, at the top of the peduncle, erect, covered with long silky hairs. Spikelets crowded, 3—4-flow- ered. Flowering glume awned. TETRAPOGON, p. 55. Spikes scattered along the peduncle. Spikelets 1—3- flowered. Flowering glumes bluntish, much shorter than the somewhat awned lower empty glumes. (Vide Plate ¥., Fig. 28). | DInesra, p. 55. Spikes digitate or verticillate. Spikelete many flowered, sessile, crowded, flattened, unilateral. Flowering glumes ~ =, 7a =, 1 ee ; eae > 2 et oo ee G XX1l SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. without awns, longer than the unequally obtuse inferior ~ », b . ee a empty ones. Seed transversely wrinkled, usually loose ~_ within the pericarp. (Makra, mandua, chhimbar, &.) ~ (Vide Plate ¥., Fig. 29). ELEUSINE, p. 56. Spikelets small, flat, sessile or nearly so, arranged on one side of the slender spike-like branches of a long panicle. Flowering glumes without awns, longer than << the lower empty ones. LEPTOCHLOA, p. 59. TRIBE XI. Festucez.—Spikelets with two or more perfect florets, rarely only 1-flowered, panicled, rarely in racemes or clusters. Flowering glumes usually without awns, which when present are terminal and straight. Spikelets 1—2 rarely 3-flowered, in dense spike-like a panicles. Flowering glumes with nine awns. In India confined to Northern Punjab. PAPPOPHORUM, p. 59. Panicle branches long, slender, and spike-like as in Lep- tochloa. Spikelets many-flowered, narrow. Flowering glumes 3-toothed, the central one mucriform. Dirtacuye, p. 59. Spikelets 2—4-flowered, arranged in large branching panicles Axis of spikelets silky hairy. Flowering glumes clothed with silky hairs, 3-nerved, 2-toothed and mucronate between the teeth. (all reeds). ARUNDO, p. 60. Lowest floret of spikelets male or sterile. Flowering glumes without hairs. Otherwise asin Arundo. (Vide Plate F., F1g. 30). PHRAGMITES, p. 60. Spikelets many-flowered, minute, crowded into com- pound subglobose clusters, the whole forming an inter- = rupted spike. Flowering glumes 3-nerved, mucronate, acuminate or almost awned. Pales keeled on both sides, one or both keels broadly winged. A very distinct looking annual, usually occurring on a moist clayey soil. (Vide Plate F., Fig. 31). ELYTROPHORUS, p. 60. Spikelets dimorphic, in a dense unilateral panicle; ter- minal one of each branchlet 1-flowered. Flowering glume and upper empty one awned. Glumes of lower SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. XXili barren spikelets many, blunt, and bifariously imbricate. A small annual with handsome golden coloured inflores- cence. LAMARCKIA, p. 61. Panicle spreading or compact. Spikelets numerous, usually many-flowered, more or less compressed. Outer glumes shorter than the distichously imbricate flowering ones. Flowering glumes 3-nerved, not awned, keel pro- minent. Rachilla usually ‘persistent, rarely jointed as in Poa. (Dab, &e.) ERAGROSTIS, p. 61. Panicle spikelike, densely cylindrical, or more or less interrupted towards the base. Margins of flowering glumes transparent. ‘ Kq@ueEptia, p. 61. Spikelets many-flowered, arranged in dense spike-like clusters. Flowering glumes broad at the apex and mu- cronate, 5- or more-nerved. Small prostrate grasses with short stiff almost prickly leaves. In India con- fined to the Punjab. JELUROPUS, p. 66. Panicle various, usually lax. Spikelets few-flowered. Rachilla jointed between the florets. Flowering glumes 5- or more-nerved, membranous, keeled, not awned. Poa, p. 67. Spikelets rather large, subterete or compressed, many- flowered. Outer glumes shorter than the florets. Flow- _ering glumes 5- or more-nerved, rounded on the back, _and usually awned from a little below the 2-cleft apex. "Pale shorter than the flowering glume, with two rigid ciliate keels, adherent to the grain. eae, | Bromus, p. 67. TRIBE XII. Hordez.—Spikelets 1-many-flowered, sessile at _the teeth or excavations on the rachis of a simple spike. * Spikelets solitary at the nodes, 3- or more-flowered. Spikelets many-flowered, alternate, distichous, com- pressed, placed edgeways on the rachis. (Rye grass). | Louium, p. 68. Spikelets 3-5-flowered, somewhat compressed. Margins of glumes facing the main rachis. flowering glumes rounded on the back or keeled above, 5—9-nerved, IRI SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. lateral nerves not confluent, short, or produae into teeth or distinct awns. pics TRITIOUM, p. 68. ** Spikelets solitary at the nodes, 1-flowered, ae a slend- er spike. Spikelets completely immersed at the nodes of the slend- er spike, as in Rottbellia. A very diminutive grass found on sandy waste land. ; OROPETIUM, p. 69. *** Spikelets 2 or more, collateral at the nodes. Spikelets usually in threes, 1-flowered. Empty glumes subulate, rigid and resembling an invol- ucre. Lateral spikelets imperfect (in 2-rowed barley) or perfect (in 6-rowed barley). (Vide Plate F., Fig. 32). Horpzvuy, p. 69. TRIBE XIII. Bambusez.—tTall perennial aborescent grasses. Leaves flat, often disarticulating from the sheath. Spikelets 2-many-flowered, arranged in clusters on the panicle branches. Empty glumes 83—6, Stamens 3 or 6. Stamens 6. Lodicules 3, large. Pericarp thin, adnate to the seed. Bampusa, p. 70. Stamens 6. Lodicules 0. Pericarp crustaceous, free from the seed. DENDROCALAMUS, p. 71. EXPLANATION OF PLATKS, Figures 10, 14, 17, 18, 21 and 30 were copied from Reichenbach’s “Tcones Flore Germanice”; Figures 26 and 32 from Bentley’s and Trimen’s “ Medicinal Plants’’; and the rest are from the “ Agros- tographie”’ of Palisot de Beauvois. PLATE A. Fig.1. Panicum Crus-Galli, Linn. Spikelet. Male floret. Hermaphrodite fioret with the flowering glume and pale re- moved. | Fig. 2. Panicum miliaceum, Linn. Spikelet with one hermaphrodite and one male floret. Fig. 3. Panicum Myurus, Lamk. Spikelet. Pistil with lodicule. Fig. 4. Panicum sanguinale, Linn. Spikelet, showing the unequal! outer glumes. Fig. 6. Pennisetum cenchroides, Rich. Spikelet surrounded by an involucre of bristles. Spikelet containing one hermaphrodite and one male fioret. Fig. 6. Coix Lachryma, Linn. Spikelet of male florets. Involucre enclosing a female spikelet. Grain. ee idee FIG. 2. ] 4 Is . oe j Panicum Crus-Galli, Panicum miliaceum. Mw ; | i ’ } sa Panicum Myurus. Panicum sanguinale. gun _ gr fun _ i ; yr tee eae: Pennisetum cenchraides. . i » (wv . cho, 5! ; ee ary, aU Coix Lachryma. 4 yo Litho. T. C. Preas, Roorkee. THos DP. BONA, Supdi. PLATE B. is ae le _ Fig. 7. Oryza sativa, Linn. a a. Closed spikelet showing the two inner glumes, and at their ie q base the two minute outer glumes. 3 t. Spikelet open showing the two inner glumes, the absence of pales, and the six stamens. ed Petz oct Fig. & Tragus racemosus, Hall. : ie a. Cluster of three florets, of which the central one is sterile. b. Pistil with lodicules. . Fig. 9. Perotis latifolia, Ajit. lt Spikelet. The two outer glumes are awned. | Hdroh S90 1, > Fig. 10. Imperata arundinacea, Cyrill. Be Hermaphrodite spikelet, stamens reduced to two. Me Fig. 11.. Erianthus Ravennee, Beauv. a a. Cluster of spikelets with detached bract. © b. A single spikelet. ; Fig. 12. Manisuris granularis, Swartz. ¢ a. Cluster of spikelets, two fertile and one male. b. Polygamous spikelets. ) c. Male floret. ~ — — : PLATE B. See pe? es . Tragus racemosus. ee ee a Oryza sativa. FIG. S. é imperata arundinacea. Eriasthus Ravenne Mamisuris granuilaris. Liths. T. C. Press, Roorkee. THOS D. BONA, Supiit. a. PLATE C. Fig. 13. Hemarthria compressa, R. Br. Portion of rachis showing the embedded spikelets. Single spikelet. Male floret. Female floret. Fig. 14. Andropogon Ischcemum, Linn. Cluster of spikelets, the lower sessile one fertile and awned, the upper stalked one sterile and without an awn. re L Fertile floret, flowering glume reduced to a slender awn. Male floret. | Fig. 15. Andropogon muricatus, Retz. Pair of spikelets, one sessile and fertile, the other stalked and sterile. | Male spikelet. Polygamous spikelet, Fig. 16. Andropogon pertusus, Willd. A pair of spikelets showing the pit on the back of the outer glume, and the long twisted awn of the fertile spikelet. * se “; « , he Ve i - ee vee e) 3 ; g a0 Li S 8 E 2 i Zz he : 4 o) << = : = : g ° a] 3 . a. 9 : , : i) r . = Ft ee fa ives) & Fre a de , 3 , ) : ¢ Z aa 2 ae : we | a Bea Aa Sy fai , ad - 4 7 . ‘ lt PLATE D. / Fig. 172 Chrysopogon Gryllus, Trin. : Cluster of three spikelets, the central one sessile and herma- phrodite, the two lateral stalked and sterile. Fig. 18. Sorghum halepense, Pers. Cluster of three spikelets, the central sessile one hermaphro- dite, the two lateral stalked and sterile. Hermaphrodite awned floret. Male floret. Fig. 19. Anthistiria ciliata, Linn. f. Four sterile florets each composed of a single paie. Polygamous spikelet. ( oe Flowering glume and pale of male floret. Fig. 20. Apluda mutica, Linn. Py A cluster of spikelets with its spathe-like bract. Fig. 21. Crypsis aculeata, Ait. Single floret deprived of its coverings. Stamens reduced to two. A Spikelet. %famn 9 gitenn a> | WOE Bo csc Fig. 22. Alopecurus agrestis, Linn. Flowering glume showing the dorsal awn. Pistil. PLATE: B THos B. ReNA, Supai. nt us Z £ AT a & Y o an a * "6 fH et ted Cy Q : 5. : ®@ - o BS : a ~ cw sha teed & : ae BS : ey : = 2 =e Gu <3 4 S wef Fa ae F: rs 3 a = a Br ag} a Sug QO . wn ‘ “he, FP ws ; & . . Be Le ‘ 4 § oe e ot : rae = ‘ } “2c 2 y he \ at bree a rey) s Cs s % cc rveenta LT i MN P| oe e m “s es neatly ra . a OM ‘e ‘ By ch 1S — a at, eS Liz a G SP. v / g, T. ©. Press, Roorkee. SL SF, *’ PLATE E. A oof p08 ~~ Fig. 28. Heleochloa scheenoides, Host. d S A single floret showing the two stamens. | 5 Fig. 24. Sporobolus indicus, R. Br. = a. A closed spikelet. b. Ditto open. be te ie | Fig. 25. Polypogon monspeliensis, Desf. a. Spikelet showing the long awns to the outer glumes. 6. Single floret showing the short awn on the back of the flower- ing glume. 4 / p It . . » ATV CreR | Fig. 26. Avena sativa, Linn. a. Single spikelet. 6. Hermaphrodite floret showing the long twisted dorsal awn to the flowering glume. me c. Ditto without the flowering glume and pale, .B.—The ovary is erroneously shown as if it were composed of two distinct carpels, and the feathery stigma on the left is a little out of place. | C1 ayy - Fig. 27. Cynodon Dactylon, Pers. “ ™~ > 2 A single spikelet. PLATE © FIG. 23. FIG. 25. { ’ \ \ 4 \ } Heleochloa schenoides. FIG. 24. Sporobolus indicus. FIG. 26. oad Avena sativa. Litho. T. C. Press, Roorkee, THOS TD. RONA, Supat. SS Qa 9 Sn 5S & PLATE F. Fig. 28. Dinebra arabica, Beauv. A spikelet containing three florets. The flowering glume. The pale. A floret deprived of its coverings. Fig. 29. Eleusine egyptiaca, Pers. A single spikelet. Flowering glume and pale. Pale enclosing the young fruit. Fig. 80. Phragmites communis, Trin. Spikelet, of which the lowest floret is male. Hermaphrodite floret. Fig. 31. Elytrophorus articulatus, Beauv. A cluster of spikelets. A single spikelet. Flowering glume and pale. Pistil. Fig. 832. Hordeum vulgare, Linn. A single floret (terminal portion of flowering glume not shown here). Ditto with the flowering glume and pale removed. FIG. 28. Dinebra arabica. Bleusine egyptiaca. PLATE F. Phragmites communis, FIG. 31. Elytrophorus articulatus. FIG. 32. | Hordeum vulgare , ¢ x Litho. T. C. Press, Roorkee. THOS D. BONA. Supdt. ? “ \ 4 SERIES A. PANICACEZ. TRIBE I. PANICEZ. 1. PASPALUM, Linn. A large genus confined chiefly to tropical and sub-tropical regions, and abundantly represented in America. It is superficially distinguished from all other genera by the inflorescence, though a few of the Panicums are very similar in this respect. The small empty outer glume characteristic of Panicum is altogether want- ing. Out of 160 known species about five only occur in North-West India. P. serobiculatum, Zinn. (Plate I.) Vern.—Generau: Koda, kodon; Ponsas : Kodra; N.-W. Prov.: Kodrdm (Bijnor), marst (Muttra) ; Tetine : Aruga (Roxb.). Annual, glabrous. Stems many, 2 feet or more, branching, erect or ascending, compressed. Leaves narrow, gradually tapering to a fine point; sheaths long, the upper ones spathe-like, often embracing and partially concealing the spikes. Spikes 2-5, terminal and axillary, ses- sile, erect or spreading, 1-3 inches long. Spikelets 1-flowered, ses- _sile, arranged in two rows on one side of a broad membranous flattened ‘rachis. (In cultivated specimens there are sometimes three or four rows on portions of the rachis). Outer glumes nearly equal, thin, and with a prominent midrib. Fruiting glume hard and brittle. Pale rather thinner, with auricle- like projecting edges embracing the stamens and pistil. Grain enclosed by, and adhering to, the pale, smooth and round- ish, about the size of a hemp seed. Cultivated as a rainy season crop throughout the plains, and at low elevations on the Himalaya. It is usually sown on the poorer kinds of soil, the grain being chiefly consumed by the lower classes. The straw is used as fodder. It is figured in Church’s “ Food Grains of India,” also in Part II. of ‘Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh.” P. Kora, Willd. (Plate Il.) Vern.—Hinp: Kodu; Pounsas: Kora; N.-W. Proy. and Oupn: Kodela and kodeli (Pilibhit and Kheri), kudpal and pankhagar (Bhira); Rasputana: Chinke (Merwara), sdwan dungarko (Jeypur); Cent. Proy.: Kudda jéri and kodda gadi (Chén- F ( 2 ) da), kodda jari (Seoni), ban kodo (Balaghét); Cuut1a Naarur: Kodo; _ Sanrari: Janhe; Tauine: Aruga and neer (Roxb.). This is possibly the wild state of P. scrobiculatum, from which it — differs by its decumbent stems usually rooting from the lower nodes, and by its shorter leaves, It is a common weed on low-lying marshy ground, and on river banks. Cattle, and especially buffaloes, eat it readily when itis young. Growing naturally in moist soils, its value as forage is largely increased during seasons of drought. Of other Indian apaeibe of ae, the following are ee met with dur- tum, Nees. In Habe they are more ane ronal ‘to some e of ‘the Ponies of the Digitaria section. Some of the American species are highly valued both for grazing and stacking. Prof. Phares of Mississippi, quoted by Dr. Vasey in his “ Report on the Agricultural Grasses of the United States,” says with reference to the American Paspalwms:— “They are all succulent, tender, nutritious, hardy, thrifty, and relished by all grass- eating animals, They fill the soil with a matting of roots, and cover the surface densely with luxuriant foliage from early spring till autumnal frosts.” 2. ERIOCHLOA, H. 8.6K. A genus of 5 species widely spread over the warmer parts of the globe. It agrees with Paspalum in hay- ing only three empty glumes, and with Panicum as to its inflorescence ; but it differs from both in the presence of a hard cup-like dise at the top of the pedicel. One species is found in N orthern pe and extends as far as Queensland. ( E. polystachya, H.B.-§—K.-( Plate XLL) Suni Ee. chills: Kunth ; Paspalum annulatum, Fligge. 3 Pordunial: erect, 2-3 feet high. Stems and leaves glabrous except at the nodes and mouth of sheaths. Leaf blades flat, dark green ; sheaths paler, almost glaucous, somewhat inflated. Panicle narrow, 2-3 inches long; branches simple. Spikes slender, 1-14 inches long. Spikelets narrow, tapering at the end. Flowering glume much shorter than the empty ones, coriaceous, the midrib produced into a point or short awn resembling those of the outer glumes of Panicum helopus. A quick growing succulert grass, usually occurring on damp low- lying ground, but not common. In Australia it affords fodder all the year round, and is said to be highly relished by stock. 3. ISACHNE, #. Br. A genus of about 20 species, two of which occur in the plains of North-West India. It has very much the habit of Panicum, but the two lower glumes, which are nearly equal, are persist- ent below the joint of the pedicel, a character which gives this genus an | exceptional position amongst the Panicacec.. ; ete \ I. australis, R: Br. Syn.—Panicum antipodum, Spreng.; P. atro- virens, Trin. Vern.—Rasputana: Mez (Mount Abu). Stems 1 foot or more, slender, decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves lanceolate, rough. Panicle loose, spreading, ovoid; branches numerous filiform. Spikelets stalked. Outer glumes glabrous. Lower floret usually male, and with a glabrous glume ; upper one female, shortly stalked, and with its glume minutely pubescent. Rachis with a swollen _joint under the upper glume. oe Plains of Northern India and up to 5,000 feet on the Himalaya, usu- © ally in wet places. Symonds (“Indian Grasses,” p. 33) says that horses and cattle are very-fond of it. I. albens, Trin. (Panicum bellwm, Steud.) is a taller species with larger and © looser panicles. It is found occasionally in the plains, and up to 6,000 feet on the Himalaya. 4. PANICUM, Zinn. This is the largest genus of the grass family, containing upwards of 280 species. It is represented in all tropical — parts of the globe, some few extending also into temperate regions. As a genus it has no very distinctive characters in regard to habit and | inflorescence, and the safest single character by which it may generally - be recognized, viz., the inequality in size between the two lowest glumes, fails in the case Jee a fews species, whilst in others the lower of these two outer glumes is altogether wanting, asin Paspalum. Of the Indian species several are much valued as fodder grasses owing to their abund- ant yield of grain, and the relatively large size of their grains. On this account we find so many species of this genus in cultivation, eg., P. Srumentaceum (sanwdk or sdnwan), P. miliaceum (chena) and P. miliare (kutk:). Guinea grass, an introduced fodder grass of great value, also belongs to this genus. Mr. Bentham divides the genus into eleven sections, of which the following are - more or less largely represented in Northern India :— Digitaria. Spikelets usually small, in alternate pairs or clusters along one side of the simple spike-like branches of the panicle; those of each pair or cluster un- equally stalked, or one of them almost sessile. The lowest glume is often very minute or deficient. Example.—P. sanguinale. | Brachiaria. Panicle of spike-like simple branches on a simple common pe- - duncle. Examples.—P. flavidum, fluitans, and eruceforme. Echinochloa. Inflorescence somewhat similar to that of the preceding section, but coarse plants with densely crowded spikelets on the partial spikes or branches of the panicle, the second and third empty glumes very generally terminating in long awns. Examples.—P. colonum, and Crus-galli. Hymenachne. Spikelets small, numerous, crowded in a long cylindrical spike- like panicle. In the typical species, P. Myurus, = spikelets are rather acuminate, and the fruiting glume scarcely hardens. ( 25) Eupanicum. Spikelets awnless, collected together in a more or less spreading panicle, clustered or scattered along its simple or divided branches, Examples.—P. miliaceum, and jwmentorum. Tricholzena. Panicle loose as in Hupanicum, but fruiting glumes not much hardened, inflorescence ciliate with long hairs. Example.—P. Teneriffe. P. antidotale, Retz. (Plate III.) Syn.—P. subalbidum, Kunth. Vern.—Trans-Inpvus: Male and shamukha (Stewart); Punsap: Gharam (N.-West and Central), ghamur (E.), girui and mangrur (Stewart), baru and ghamrur (Simla and Kangra), ghirri (Hissar); Rasputana: Bar- wart and bari gagli (Udaipur); Santati: Layo-gundli. A tall glabrous perennial grass with erect stems thickened at the joints. Leaves long, linear, acuminate; ligule short and jagged. Pani- cle rather narrow, but loose, the lower branches in clusters, the upper usually solitary. Spikelets in sessile clusters or short spikes. Outer glume acute, less than half the length of the spikelet; second and third glumes about equal, prominently nerved, the latter enclosing a male flower; fruiting glume coriaceous, acute, smooth and shining. In gen- eral appearance it resembles Guinea grass. Common all over the plains in hedges and amongst bushes. Opinions differ as to the quality of this grass as fodder. It is a tall coarse-look- » ing species, and its real value commences probably at those periods when the better class of fodder grasses fails. Mr. Coldstream, writing from Hissar, says that it is grazed only when quite young, as it afterwards acquires a bitter or saltish taste. In the Sirsa Settlement Report it is mentioned that cattle eat it when dry; if they eat it green and young they are apt to swell, sometimes with fatal results. Dr. Stewart says that the smoke from this grass is used for fumigating wounds, also as a disinfectant in small-pox. In Madras it is said to be used medicinally in throat affections. It extends to N. Australia. P, cimicinum, Retz. Syn.—Coridochioa fimbriata, Nees ; Milium cimicinum, Linu. Vern.—Siuri (Dehra Din). 7 Annual. Stems erect, 1-2 feet, sulcate, beset with bulbous-based hairs, Leaves |” short, broadly lanceolate, acute, base cordate, margin fringed with hairs. Spikelets rather large, two or three together on long slender terminal racemes ; second glume with a thick fringe of reddish hairs along the margin. Plains of N.-W. India, and on the hills at low elevations. I have no information regarding its nutritive value. P.colonum, Linn. (Plate 1V.)* Syn.—P. brizoides, Linn.; Op- lismenus colonus, Kunth; Echinochloa colona, Kunth. Vern.—GeEneRA.: Sawdnk; Tranxs-Inpus: Sirmakar (Col. Strong); Ponsan: Sdnwak (general), jangli sémak or sdnwak, sdmak (Hissar), chatta (Simla Hills) ; \ *® See also Church’s ‘* Food Grains of India,”’ Fig. 5. i a. ( 1oe9) Banna: sivaen; Oupu: Jharai (Bhira), oyia (Kheri); Cant. Prov.: Chi- chohi (Balaghat), giwa (Nagpur); Cuutia Naarur: Sama-ghds; Berar: Saweli; Buncgau: Shama (Roxb.); Texina: Woodoo gaddi (Roxb.), Annual. Stems erect, 2 feet or more in height, or decumbent and rooting from the lower nodes. Leaves glabrous, flat, linear, acuminate. Panicle composed of several secund erect distant spikes. Spikelets Se8- : sile, in four rows on one side of the spikes., Rachis with sometimes a few empty scales (abortive spikelets?) at the base of the spike. Glumes generally with rough hairs on the nerves, often pointed, but not awned ; the lower outer glume nearly half as long as the second and. third, which are about equal, Flowering glume and pale coriaceous and white. Generally considered to be one of the best kinds of fodder grass. It is abundant all over the plains, and ascends to some few thousand feet _ __on the Himalaya. It prefers a rich soil, and is often commonly met with as a weed on cultivated ground. It is greedily eaten by all kinds of cattle both before and after it has flowered, the abundant crop of grain yielded by it adding materially to its nutritive value. The grain, which is a saleable article in the bazars, is made into “khir” by the Hindus, to be used on their fast days. Dr. Aitchison states that it is cultivated in the Jhelum District, It extends to Australia, where, it is reported, its very succulent stems grow from 2-8 feet in height. P, Crus-Galli, Linn. (Plate V.)* Syn—P. Crus-corvi, Linn. ; Oplismenus Crus-Galli, Kunth; Echinochloa Crus-Galli, Beauv ; Ortho- pogon Crus-Galli, Spreng. Vern.—GeneraL: Sdnwak; Punsas : Bara sanwak (Multan), jarotha (Sabathu Hills), bharti (Hissar); Raspur- ana: Sama, horma (Mount Abu); Doan: Dhand (Royle); Cernr. Prov.: Bart bhodore (Seoni), bharta and datia (Balaghat), hkunda buttam gadi (Chanda); Barnegat: Bura shama and dul (Roxb.); Trt- ina: Pedda woondoo (Roxb.). Rather a coarse decumbent annual with stems ascending 2-3 feet. Leaves broad and flat, without any ligule. Panicle irregularly pyra- midal, usually dense, and composed of short spikes diminishing in size upwards and directed to one side. Spikelets more or less hispid hairy ; rachis ciliate or bristly. Outer glume very short and broad, second and third nearly equal, the second shortly awned, and the third with long awns sometimes an inch in length. Fruiting glume smooth and polished. A very variable species as to the length of the awns, the shorter awned forms approaching P. colonum, which Cosson and Durieu, in their work on the flora of Algeria, describe as a variety of this species. * See also Plate A., Fig.1, in present Volume. ( oe) Though similar in habit to P. colonwm, it is usually a much coarser plant, and is nearly always found in or near water. The grain is eaten by the poorer classes, and is also used for making into “khir.”- Tam — told that it is frequently sown in the Lahore District for the sake of its grain. In Rajputana it is considered to be a good fodder, though not plentiful. It extends to Australia, where it affords a large amount of feed to cattle, and is much improved by cultivation. In America, where it is known under the name of ‘ Barn-yard grass,” it appears to be highly valued. ‘The following quotations are from Dr. Vasey’s “ Report on the Agricultural Grasses of the United States” :— “It is greedily eaten (at Mobille, U. S.) by horses and cattle, and makes a hay of good quality. It is justly regarded as an excellent grass, particularly before it ripens its seeds. “In Louisiana, Mississippi, and other States, it is mowed annually, and yields as. much as four or five tons of hay per acre. Two cuttings are procurable each season when mowed as soon as it begins to bloom. It re-seeds the ground, and requires no care save protection from live stock. Cows and horses are very fond of it green or dry.” P. distachyum, Linn. (Plate XLII.) Syn.—Digitaria distachya, Pers. Vern.—Motia (Doab). Stems slender, usually creeping and rooting at the lower nodes, as- cending to 1 foot or more. Leaves flat, smooth, or hairy at the mouth of the sheath. Panicle of 2-4 distant simple secund branches 1-2 inches long, at first erect, afterwards spreading or reflexed; rachis with a few scattered hairs, Spikelets loosely alternate, or sometimes more nu- merous and arranged in two rows, ovoid, acute, glabrous. Outer glume about half the length of the spikelet, broad and with the edges over- lapping each other; second and third glumes prominently 3-nerved; fruiting glume a little shorter, obtuse, hardened, and with three distinct nerves. | Not uncommon on the plains. I have received no information as to its value for fodder in Northern India, though it has all the appearance of a good fodder grass. It occurs in Australia, where it is said to be grown for hay, and is an immense yielder. P. eruceforme, Sibth. and Sm. (Plate XLIII.) Syn—P. caucasi- cum, Trin. Vern.—Bunpeixuanp: Tiliya, chinwéri (Lalitpur); Cent. “Prov.: Guhria (Seoni), loidan siput and sarpot (Nagpur), sarput (Chan- da). Annual, cxspitose; culms branching and bent below. Leaves and sheaths softly hairy; leaves shortly spreading, broadly lanceolate; ligule ciliate. Spikes linear, solitary, shortly peduncled, arranged along _ a slender hairy rachis, close together and adpressed to the axis, some- 6 Fa) times compound at the base. Spikelets in two rows, short, hairy, ovate ; lower glume very small or wanting; flowering glume and pale shorter than the glume of the elliptic obtuse hermaphrodite floret, coriaceous, shining, glabrous. Common on cultivated ground in black and sandy soil in Bundelkhand and Central India. It is reckoned as a fodder grass, but its relative value is not known. P, flavidum, Retz. (Plate VI.) Syn.—P. brizoides, Jacq. Vern.— Punsas: Kangna (Kangra), pdlon (Patidla), bharté (Eastern Punjab. and Doab); Raspurana: Homa (Mount Abu); N.-W. Prov.: Sanka (Dehra Dun), dhanera (Royle), baunrz (Allahabad); Oupu: Sathiya and sitiya (Bhira); Cent. Prov. : Paddatunga gadi and kura-tuka gadi (Chanda), chichwi and sama jodi (Seoni); Teuina: Oda and woodoo gaddi (Roxb.). Annual. Stems erect, rigid, 1-2 feet high, branching below. Leaves rather broad, acute, glabrous except some hairs at the top of the sheath. Panicle of several _erect distant branches or sessile spikes. Spikelets ~~ sessile, i in two rows, ovoid, oblique ; outer glume very short, broad and blunt; second glume the largest; upper floret usually without stamens. Grain short, oval, pointed, slightly rugose. Common throughout the plains, and up to moderate elevations on the hills, It is considered to be a good fodder grass both for horses and bullocks. It produces a large quantity of grain, which is collected and eaten by the poorer classes in times of scarcity. It is indigenous also in Australia, and it is said that when growing on alluvial flats the pani- cles are often prostrate from the weight of the seed. An analysis lately made by Professor Church shows that the grain of this species contains much more indigestible fibre than any species yet examined, but is exceptionally rich in oil or fat, containing nearly twice as much of this constituent as any other kind (Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew, No. 12, 1887). P. fluitans, J Retz, (Plate XLIV.) Syn.—P. brizoides, Retz. (non Lion.) Vern.—Benoat: Peti-nar (Roxb.); Terine: Doosa (Roxb.). Perennial, floating, glabrous. Stems rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves elongate, linear, acuminate; lower sheaths inflated. Racemes often several on each stem, elongate, Spikes linear, sessile, adpressed, lower distant. Spikelets imbricate along the flattened smooth rachis of the spike, sessile, ovate oblong, acute, sub-compressed; glumes mem- - branous, the lower-one very short and truncate; the upper one not much larger, orbicular, ovate, obtuse; lower floret reduced to a membranous (oro ovate acute prominently 3-nerved glume; flowering glume and pale of hermaphrodite floret coriaceous, ovate oblong, acute, and wrinkled: _ Plains of North-West India, but not very common. It is strictly a | water grass, and is usually found with a considerable portion of its stems _ under water. It produces an abundance of grain. P. frumentaceum, Roxb. Syn.—Oplismenus frumentaceus, Kunth ; Echinochloa frumentacea, Link. Vern.—Gunerau: Sdnwan and sdwan ; PounsaB: Sama and sdéiwak (Plains), sémuka (Sutlej basin); N.-W. Prov. and OupH: Sdma and samei (Bijnor), sdwan-bhedeha (Bara Banki), ghangora and jhungara (Him.); Beneau: Shama (Roxb.); Teuine: Bonta-shama (Roxb.). | An annual, 2-4 feet high. Leaves large, often over-topping the pani- cles, margins hispid. Panicle erect, composed of numerous secund usually incurved spikes entirely surrounding the common rachis, and frequently forming verticels, Spikelets in threes, the one sessile, the other two on pedicels of unequal length. Outer glumes very unequal, pubescent, cuspidate. Largely cultivated in Northern India as a rainy season crop, but chiefly near and at low elevations on the hills. It is a rapid grower, coming to maturity within six weeks after sowing. The grain is not considered of a high class, and is mostly consumed by the poorer people. The stalks are given as fodder to cattle. It is figured in Part II. of “ Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” and in Prof. Church’s “ Food Grains of India,” Fig. 4. P. helopus, 7rin. (Plate VII.) Syn.—P. setigerum, Retz; P. hirsu-— tum, Ken.; P. Kenigii, Spreng; Urochloa pubescens, Beauv. Vern.— GenerRaL: Kuri and kuriya; Ponsas: Chatta and kowain (Sabathu Hills), thun (Kangra); N.-W. Prov.: Basaunta (Dehra Dun), chap- raila and semai (Allahabad), motia (Mainpuri); BunpELKnanp: Gal- phula, basaunta, and samwdan (Banda); Beneau: Jal-ganti (Roxb.); Texine: Salla-woodoo (Roxb.). Stems usually tall, creeping and rooting at the base. Leaves rather broad lanceolate, with wavy margins, and cordate at the base, hirsute or glabrous; sheaths loose and hairy. Panicle branches 3-7, sessile above the upper leaf or on a long peduncle. Spikelets arranged irregularly in two rows, or in clusters at the base of the branches, ovoid acute, glabrous or hairy. Rachis usually clothed with bristles; outer glumes short, broad, 3-nerved, second and third about equal, the third enclosing a pale but no stamens. Fruiting glume minutely rugose, obtuse, but with the central nerve produced into a short awn-like point. bb, \v An excellent fodder grass for both horses and cattle. It is found chiefly on cultivated ground in the plains, and occurs on the Himalaya up to about 5,000 feet. The short awn-like point to the fruiting glume is its best distinguishing character. P. humile, Wees. Vern.—CENT. PRov.: Kathi and wrdiya (Chanda), A slender annual, about one foot in height. Leaves lanceolate acuminate, sparsely hairy. Panicle spreading ; glumes acuminate prominently nerved. I have seen specimens from the Punjab and Central Provinces, and have gathered it in Bundelkhand, where it is said to be a good fodder grass, P. indicum, Linn. Vern. —Lodi-gadi (Chanda in Cent. Prov.). Closely allied to P. myosuroides (see description) ), but not so plentiful in Northern India. It is a smaller plant, with much shorter and somewhat interrupted spikes. The | spikelets are also much smaller, and more or less curved ; the second glume is | curved and gibbous at the base. r P. jumentorum, Pers. Syn.—P. maximum, Jacq. Perennial. Stems tall, 3-5 feet, leaves broad, flat, acuminate; sheaths and nodes hairy. Panicle large and loose with numerous capillary much _divided branches. Spikelets many, . stalked. Lower outer glume one- fourth the length of the spikelet, ovate obtuse, the third glume encloses a male flower; fruiting glume acute, e, slightly rugose. This is the ‘‘ Guinea-grass,” a native of Tropical Africa, and now ex- tensively cultivated in most tropical countries. Although it seeds freely in this country, it is nevertheless found preferable to propagate it by root cuttings. In the United States it is usually planted in this way, as it rarely matures seed in that country. Manuring is beneficial where frosts prevail. Analysis shows it to be very rich in nutritive qualities ; and, as it appears to thrive well in the plains of Northern India, its ex- | tended cultivation should be encouraged. P. miliaceum, Linn.* _Syn.—P. asperrimum, Lagasc.; P. Milium, Pers. Vern.—GENERAL: Chena, china, chinwa and chirwa; Trans- Inpus: Tsedze, (Ladak); Punsaz: Sdlan (Stewart), anne (Chenab basin), zad (Sutlej basin); Oupu: Sdwan-chaitwa and sdwan-jethwa (Bara Banki); Bonpevkuanp: Bansi phikar and réli; Teuine: Worga (Roxb.); Sourn Inp1a: Vardagu. Annual, hairy. Stems erect, 2-4 feet high, leafy, simple or branched from the base. Leaves large, broad, acuminate, pilose or hispid; sheaths long, densely hairy. Panicle much branched; branches slender, elongate, spreading, ultimately bending over from the weight of the grain. Spikelets rather large, inflated, oblong, acute, smooth; lower glume one-third shorter than the spikelet, acute or cuspidate. Grain }) * See Plate A., Fig. 2, of present Volume. (C 10°95 oval with longitudinal streaks. (For figures, sce “Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” Part II., Plate XXIII., and Church’s ‘‘ Food Grains of India,” Fig. 2). - A native of Egypt and Arabia. It is cultivated in various parts of N.-W. India on the plains as a hot weather crop; and on the Himalaya it is grown to some extent during the rainy season as a village crop at _ various elevations up to 11,000 feet. In this country it is cultivated al- most entirely for the sake of its grain, a preparation of which constitutes a favourite kind of food at marriage ceremonies; it is therefore seldom used as fodder, although of excellent quality in the green state. P. miliare, Lamk.,* (Plate XLVI.) Syn.—P. psilopodium, Tree. Vern.—Puonsap : Kuthi (Stewart), chin (Hissar) ; N.-W. Prov.: Mijhri; BunpevkHanD: Kutki; Cent. Prov.: Kutki (Chanda), ban kutki and bagad (Balaghdt), badi bhurbhuri (Nagpur); Berar: Gomej ko kutk ; Santat: Gundhi; Teuine: Nella-shama (Roxb.). Annual, stems many, erect, 2-3 feet high. Leaves smooth, narrow and tapering to a fine point. Panicle slender, oblong, with many capil- iary hispid | branches, ultimately bending over with the weight of the grain, ‘Flowers)i in pairs, pedicels unequal, grain ovate, smooth, striated, becoming dark brown when ripe. Not uncommon in the plains and up to moderate elevations on the. Himalayas. It is cultivated locally for its grain by the poorer classes in Northern India and in the Central Provinces. Cattle are fond of the straw, and Mr. Coldstream states that it is good for grazing, and will stack. It is reckoned to be a good fodder grass in Bundelkhand. P. myosuroides, R.Br. Syn.—P. angustum, Trin. Vern.—CENT. PROV. : Dhidhina (Chanda), musapunchi (Balaghat), swpedkar (Seoni). A smooth slender erect annual with long narrow leaves. Spikelets ovoid, obtuse, crowded into dense cylindrical spikes 1-4 inches long, often dark coloured. _Common in wet ground in the plains, and at low elevations on the hills. It is of little or no importance for fodder purposes. It extends to Queensland in Aus- tralia. P. Myurus, Lamk.t Syn.—P. interruptum, Willd; P. serrulatum, Roxb.; Hymenachne Myurus, Beauy. Vern.—Dhamsiria (Rohilkhand). A tall smooth grass growing in water. Stems 2-4 feet high, lower portions thick and rooting at the nodes. Leaves flat, broad. Spikelets crowded on the short branch- es of a dense cylindrical spike-like panicle which is sometimes lobed and interrupt- ed at the base. Outer glume thin, transparent, 1-nerved, usually inserted at some distance below the others ; second and third tapering to a fine point ; flowering erene shorter, thin, transparent, stiff but not hardening round the grain. It occurs in marshy ground and by water-courses in the plains of Northern India, * Iam unable to distinguish this species from P. psilopodium, Trin., under which name it is figured in Part II. of ‘‘ Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Exayanees and Oudh,” Plate XXVI. See _ also Church’s ‘Food Grains of India,” Fig. 2. t See Plate A., Fig. 3, of present Volume. " : it lan Cc if 3 but too local in its distribution to be reckoned as a useful fodder grass. In Aus- tralia, however, it is said to be very palatable and nutritious to stock. P. paludosum, (foxvd.). Syn.—P. decompositum, R. Br. Vern.—BENGAL : Boruti and kulus-nar (Roxb.); TELING : Soda (Roxb.). An aquatic grass with stout stems rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves long ; ligule broad, ciliate. Panicle 6 inches to 1 foot long; branches filiform, Spikelets narrow, acute, pale coloured ; lower outer glume short and truncate ; fruiting glume smooth and without nerves. Wet ground in Northern India, but not common, Baron von Mideller in his “ Se- lect Plants for extra-tropical Countries” says—‘‘ one of the most spacious of Austra- lian nutritious grasses, The aborigines convert the small millet-like grains into cakes. This grass will thrive on poor soil.” _ BP. Petiverii, Trin. Vern.—Chdpar and chaprur (South-Hastern Pun- jab), chaprura (Falconer). _ Annual. Stems decumbent, often bent and rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves rounded at the base, lanceolate acuminate, flat, smooth or hairy. Panicles erect, shortly pyramidal, simple or sub-compound; racemes linear, common rachis beset with rough bristles; spikelets shortly stalk- ed, with rather long bristles at the base, in pairs or solitary, loose and rather large, light green, softly tomentose or smooth; lower glume one- third shorter than the spikelet, cordate-ovate, acute. Plains of Northern India. Apparently a good fodder grass, but ac- cording to Symonds it is not suited for making into hay. P. plicatum, Lamk. This is a tall grass, 3-4 feet, with very handsome foli- age. Itis usually found in damp shady places. I have not heard of its being used for fodder, though no doubt it may be sufficiently nutritious when young. P. prostratum, Lamk. (Plate XLV.) Syn.—P. procumbens, Nees. Vern.—BunpgeLKHanD: Chaurila; Cent. Prov.: Choti semai (Seoni), sarpur (Chanda). Perennial. Stems cespitose, ascending, or creeping and rooting at the nodes. Leaves glabrous or more or less hispid with bulbous-based hairs, broadly lanceolate acuminate from a cordate base, and undulate. Panicle short, ovate, one-sided; spikes shortly stalked or sessile, usually in pairs; spikelets in two ranks with bristles on their pedicels, ovate, acute, glabrous; outer glume cordate, amplexicaul, obtuse, five times shorter than the spikelet; hermaphrodite floret white, and minutely wrinkled. Common in the plains. It is a good fodder grass, and the grain is used as food in famine times. Baron von Miieller states that it is re- commendable for pastures in Australia. P. repens, Linn.—Perennial glaucous, Stems extensively creeping. Leaves broad, cordate at the base and usually hairy ; ligule short, ciliate. Panicle narrow, erect or spreading ; spikes 4-10, short, sessile, equally inserted on the angular villous (12 ) rachis; spikelets smooth, or minutely hairy on the nerves; outer glume less than one-half the spikelet; second and third acute or acuminate, prominently 3-5 nerved, the third enclosing a male flower. Plains of Northern India. It occurs also in Australia, North Africa, South Europe, and on the coast of Brazil. Both Royle and Roxburgh state that cattle are fond of this grass. P. sanguinale, Zinn. (Plate VIII.)* Syn.—Digitaria sanguinalis, Scop.; Dactylon sanguinale, Vill.; Paspalum sanguinale, D.C. Vern.— GeneRAL: Takri and takriya; Trans-Inpus: Khurash (Stewart) ; Puy- gaB: Bara takria (Hissar), dubra (North-Eastern Punjab), mothi kabbal (Stewart); Rasputana: Hen (Mount Abu); N.-W. Prov.: Kewaz, charmara (Bijnor); Cent. Prov.: Korkol jodi (Seoni); Bsrar: Chikhart. | Stems decumbent, often rooting from the lower joints, 1-13 feet high. Leaves flaccid, flat, glabrous or occasionally hairy on the sheaths. Spikes 4-8, sub-digitate, 2-4 inches long, on a long peduncle, secund; rachis angular, flexuose, scabrous, Spikelets in pairs, or three or four together on unequal pedicels, oblong, acute. Glumes 4, smooth, the lower outer _ one minute, second 3-nerved, third 5-nerved, fruiting glume shorter. Common in the plains and at low elevations on the hills. It is much used as fodder. It occurs in Australia, South Europe, America, and in most warm countries. In the United States it is highly esteemed under the name of ‘Crab grass.” The following quotations are from Prof. Vasey’s ‘ Agricultural Grasses of the United States” :— “Tt makes a sweet hay, and horses are exceedingly fond of it’? (Prof. Killebrew). “Crab grass is one of our best hay and pasture grasses. It will make two tons of first quality of hay per acre, All that is necessary is to plough and harrow the ground in April, May, or June, and you will be sure of acrop. It grows well in ordinary lands, but on sandy lands best (KE. W. Jones of Buena Vista, Miss.)” Var. Ciliare (Plate IX.) Syn.—P. ciliare, Retz. Vern.—PunJaB : Dobra (Simla Hills) ; N.-W. Prov.: Kewai (Aligarh), stwri (Allahabad) ; N.-W. Prov. and Oupn: Kabdai (Pilibhit), sahri and sehri (Bhira); BunDELEKHAND: Kewai; Rasputana: Chhinke (Ajmere); Cnt. Prov.: Mandiya(Chanda), raha (Nagpur), sikka(Seoni and Balaghat); Benea.: Makur jalee (Roxb.); Texting: Shangali gaddi (Roxb.). , - Differs by having the lateral nerves and margin of the inner glumes clothed with long white hairs. Itis found usually on dry sandy or rocky ground. From the reports I have received it evidently apnea to be a good fodder grass, and is highly valued in Rajputana, P, Teneriffe, R. Br. Syn.—Tricholena Teneriffe, Parl.; T. micrantha, Schrad. ; Saccharum Teneriffa, Linn. f. * See also Plate A., Fig. 4, of present Volume. Y P. vestitum, Nees, _ war. Nutritive value unknown. (24 A perennial grass growing in tufts. Leaves glaucous and glabrous, narrowly linear, rigid. Spikelets solitary, irregularly panicled, clothed with long hairs; lower outer glume wanting. It occurs in Sindh, and extends through Afghanistan to Arabia and Egypt. I have received no information as to its value for fodder purposes. P. tenuiflorum, R. Br. Syn.—Paspalum brevifolium, Fligge. Stems from a | much branched creeping base, one foot or more high. Leaves short, flat, and narrow; ~°, sheaths hairy, bearing a scarious jagged ligule. Panicle branches spike-like, digi- tate, filiform, 1-2 inches long ; spikelets ovate, disposed along one side of the rachis ; pedicels short, curved; outer empty glume wanting. Probably common in North-West India, but no doubt often overlooked owing to its resemblance to a Paspalum, under which genus it is sometimes placed. I have specimens from the Siwalik range, and from Bundelkhand. It occurs in the warmer | partsof Australia, where it is said to produce a fair amount of feed, and plenty of | seed. P. triflorum, Hdgew. Found by Mr. Edgeworth among rocks at Banda, and in fields at Rudour in the Sikh States. It is distinguished (Mr. Edgeworth says) from other species of this genus by the number of the florets. P. turgidum, /orsk. Perennial, glabrous, glaucous. Root fibres thick and velvety. Stems hard with proliferous fascicles at the swollen joints. Leaves often reduced to the spathe-like sheaths. Panicle terminal, short, narrow, with short erect branches. Spikelets shortly stalked, rather large, ovate, tumid, white. A native of Sindh and Central India, extending to Arabia and Egypt. than the free blades, ligule prominent. Spikes over one inch long, two together at the summit of the peduncle, one of them attached a little lower down than the other; pedicels ciliate. Awn twisted and bent below the middle. Plains of North-Western India on wet ground; common in the Cen- tral Provinces. Extends to Australia, It is occasionally used as a fodder grass. Var. villosum. Vern.—Cernt. Prov. : Piydna-koru-gadi (Chanda), chotidli and bhodore (Seoni). Rachis thickly clothed with silky hairs. I. laxum, R. Br. (Plate LVI.) Syn.—lT. nervosum, Thw.; Andro- pogon nervosum, Rottb. Vern.—RaspuTana: Sairan or seran and hirn (Ajmere), sairan (Udaipur). Crnt. Prov.: Sira (Chanda), sedwa (Balaghat); Berar: Sainad. Stems slender, 2-3 feet long. Leaves narrow tapering to a fine point. Spike single, 2-5 inches long, often slightly curved; rachis and pedicels clothed with white hairs. The second glume of the sessile spikelet has a long straight awn, and the flowering glume has a long bent and twisted awn. , This grass occurs in hilly parts of Rajputdna, Bundelkhand and the Central Provinces. It is found alsoin Burma and Ceylon, and extends to Africa and Australia, Mr. Lowrie says that it is one of the best fodder grasses in the Ajmere district. In Australia it is said to yield a fair amount of feed, and is readily eaten. I. pilosum, Hack. Syn.—Andropogon pilosus, Klein. Vern.—CENT, PROV. : Khund (Chanda). . Glaucous. Roots strong, and thick like those of the dab. Leaves rather narrow. Spikes solitary or in pairs, 2-4 inches long, clothed with long white silky hairs. Occurs in black soil in the Central Provinces. I.rugosum, Gerin. Syn.—Mesochium rugosum, Nees.; Thelopogon elegans, Roth. Vern.—Punsas: Mehat (Sabathu Hills), munmuna (Karnal); Raspurana: Jalgundya (Ajmere), toli (Udaipur); N.-W. Proy. and Oupu: Dhanua (Pilibhit), maror (Kheri); Cent. Prov.: Amarkarh and maggru gadi (Chanda), murdi (Balaghat); Brnaa: Marudi (Santal); Berar: Tudi. Stems erect, branching. Leaves large and smooth ; ligule bifid. Spikes in pairs, terminal and from the upper axils, 2-3 inches long, erect. Spike- lets in pairs, one sessile, and the other ona thickened pedicel. Outer glumes hard and transversely rugose. Flowering glumes with a long twisted awn, Common in wet ground in the plains and at low elevations on the ce ea hills. Cattle and horses eat it when it is young. In some parts of the Central Provinces the grain is used as food. Roxburgh remarks that it is generally found growing amongst rice, and is so much like it, that they are not, till in flower, to be distinguished. Vossia speciosa, Benth. (Syn.—Ischemum speciosum, Nees) is a Himalayan species SO eee ee to ehg poe of the hills. |It is a tall rather handsome grass. - ae 37. HETEROPOGON, Pers. There are 5 or 6 species inhabit- ing warm countries, one of which, the well-known Spear grass, is common all over India, The spikes are always solitary, and the pairs of spikelets are closely packed so as to overlap each other. The spikelets are 1- flowered. The sessile spikelet of each pair is fertile and awned, and | the stalked ones are male and without awns. The long twisted and bent awn of the fertile spikelet tapers at the base into a sharp point (the point of the spear). H.contortus, R. & S. (Plate XIX.) Syn.—H. hirtus, Por: A. Roylei, Nees; Andropogon contortus, Linn. Vern.—-Trans-Invvs : Boe weza and sarmal (Stewart); Punsas: Sardri, svrdri, saridla and surwala, lamb (Kangra and parts of Gujranwala), suridla (Salt Range), sardla (E. Punjab), sarwaéla (Hissar); Rasputaya: hurwdél(Mount Abu); N.- W. Prov. and Oupu: Kunura (Kumaon), sarwéla (Dehra Dun), surwar (Aligarh), sarwar (Muttra), lap (Agra), pareba (Etawah), paraura (Cawnpore), parba and musel (Allahabad), riskawa (Kheri), surwara (Bhira); Bunperxuanp: Bandapuncha (Banda), also lamp, lampa, lam- par, parba and parti; Cent. Prov.: Hukara gadi and kusal (Chanda), kusdéli and khar (Nagpur), kusal (Balaghat); Berar: Pochati and saga ; Benaat: Kher (Rev. A. Campbell); Sanrati: Saurt ghds (Rey. A. Campbell); Texina: Yeddi (Roxb.). Stems ascending or erect, 1-2 feet high. iennee narrow, upper sur- face with a few long scattered hairs; sheaths flattened, thin, mouths bearded. Spikes stalked, 1-2 inches ie not including the awns. Male spikelets closely imbricate, in two rows along one side of the spike, awnless. Female spikelets mostly confined to the upper part of the spike, narrow, surrounded by silky brown hairs, and awned. Abundant in the plains, and up to 7,000 feet on the Himalaya. Largely used as fodder both before and after it has flowered, but chiefly when it is young and tender. In Rajputana and Bundelkhand, where this grass abounds, it is cut and stacked after the rains are over. It is also cut for hay in the Hissar bir, and Mr. Coldstream states that it will keep good in stack for 12 years. On Mount Abu the people consider a —— re (39 it the best fodder grass they have. In other districts it is said to be eaten only by buffaloes, or by cattle when they are hungry and cannot obtain other kinds of grass. It is much used for thatching. The spears which when the spikes are ripe adhere in masses are called sali at Ajmere. In Australia it is looked upon as a splendid grass for a cattle run, as it pro- duces a great amount of feed. 38. ANDROPOGON, Linn. A large genus containing about 100 described species. They are perennial grasses, usually*tall,, and with strong wiry stems. The epighhevs are 1-flowered, arranged in pairs on spikes which may be solitary, i in pairs, or several together. The rachis of | each spike is distinctly jointed where each pair of spikelets i is given off, one of each pair of spikelets being sessile and fertile, and the other is stalked and sterile ;| the terminal joint has usually two stalked sterile spikelets on either side of a sessile and fertile one. This genus is re- presented in India by the khas-khas grass (A. muricatus), and two other sweet-scented kinds (A. Schenanthus and A. laniger); also by two or three species known under the name of palwal or palwan, and which are more or less esteemed as useful fodder grasses. A. annulatus, Forsk. (Plate XX.)* Syn.—Lepeocercis annulatus, Nees: Vern.—Punsas: Palwdn (General), miniyar (Stewart), palwanh (Multan), palwal and parwal (8. HE. Punjab); Raspurana: Bansi (Jey- pur), karr (Ajmere); N.-W. Prov.: Palmaha (Dehra Dun), jarga (Etawah), janewar (Allahabad), nalli (Mainpuri), nilon (Aligarh) ; BounpetxaanD: Phulaira (Lalitpur) and donda or dunda (Banda); the scandent form is called Ahel in the Lalitpur district; Cent. Prov.: Maliyar (Chanda). Perennial. Stems branching, frequently subscandent; nodes hairy, the lower ones often bent. Spikes 5-6, terminal, sub-digitate, nearly sessile. Outer glume of the sessile hermaphrodite floret obtuse, and usually ending in three blunt teeth. Flowering glume reduced to a long _bent and twisted awn four times as long as the spikelet. Common all over the plains of Northern India by roadsides and in bushy places. It yields a considerable Aree ae fairly good fodder, which is largely made use of. It is very similar in habit to A. Jschemum and A, pertusus, differing from the former by its blunt glumes, and from the latter by the absence of the pit on the back of the outer glumes. Specimens with the outer glumes 3-dentate at the apex have hitherto been referred to A. Bladhit, Retz., but Prof. Hackel informs me that the true A. Bladhii is a Chinese variety of A. annulatus. * Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are copied from Roxburgh’s ori:,.nal drawing of A. Bladhii, Retz. F ( 34) A. brevifolius, Swartz. Vern.—CENnT. Proy.: Ware-gare or wanji-jari (Chanda), Stems slender, decumbent, much branched, 3-1} feet long. Leaves narrow, short, 1-2 inches long, obtuse or with a short oblique point. Spikes solitary, very slender, seldom above one inch long. A. earicosus, Linn. Syn.—A. serratus, Retz.; A. filiformis, Pers. ; Ltpeo- cercis serrata, Trin. Vern.—BUNDELKHAND: Kheral (Lalitpur) ; CENT. PROV. : Palmanega gadi (Chanda), dilaria kandi (Seoni) ; BERAR : Killa machhar ; BEN- GAL: Detara, and detta (Roxb.). Perennial. Stems decumbent at the base; upper nodes bearded. Spikes single or in pairs on filiform peduncles. Lower outer glume of fertile floret. obovate, obtuse, and ending in three teeth ; flowering glume reduced to a long golden coloured bent awn which soon becomes detached. From its general appearance one would be inclin- ed to reckon its value for fodder about equal to that of A. annulatus. A. fastigiatus, Swartz. Vern.—Crnt. Prov.: Liyur (Chanda). Apparently an annual with narrow finely pointed leaves. Spikes few, on very slender peduncles enclosed in narrow boat-shaped bracts, Rachis of spikes thickly clothed with white silky pwbescence. Outer glumes with slender hair-like awns Awns of flowering glumes much longer, bent and twisted. ; A variety in which the whole plant assumes a reddish tinge, and the outer glumes are tinged with a darker colour, has been received from Chanda, in the Central Pro- vinees, under the name of “141 kusal.” Similar specimens from Parasnath im Behar bear the manuscript name of A. Lohardugge, (C. B. Clarke.) A. foveolatus, Del. (Plate XXI.) Syn.—A. monostachys, Spreng. Vern.—Puounsas: Girji munhék and sirwala (Hissar), Rasputana: Bod- rt (Merwara), junjhti (Ajmere), kard gandhel (Jeypur); N.-W. Prov. = Murjaini (Etawah); BunpELKHAND: Girgua (Jhansi), murjnah or muj- na (Lalitpur). Perennial, glaucous, czspitose. Stems ereet or ascending, simple or branching; nodes hairy. Leaves narrow, with bulbous-based hairs on lower surface and near the mouth of the sheath. Spikes solitary at the summit of the stem or of each branch, slender, linear. Spikelets distichously imbricate in pairs, the one sessile hermaphrodite or female: and awned, the other stalked and male or neuter and without awns. Rachis of spike and pedicels of sterile spikelets clothed with white hairs. Glumes of fertile spikelet with a pit just below the summit. Flower- ing glumes of fertile spikelet reduced to a slender twisted and bent awn three or four times as long as the spikelet. Abundant on sandy and rocky ground in the plains, and usually reck-’ oned a good fodder grass. A. gangeticus, Hack. Vern.—CENT. Prov.: Kora gadi (Chanda). A tall slender (annual ?) grass with smooth and polished stems. Leaves narrow, scabrous ; midrib white, prominent beneath. Panicle narrow, rather lax. Spikelets small, pale green ; pedicels ciliate ; awns slender, bent, and twisted below. A, glaber, Ror. Vern.—MARATHI: Zambat (Dymock) ; BENGAL: Gundha- goorana (Roxb.). . =» -*& ae $ ‘ 5 - ge ( 35 ) » 4 : Perennial. Stems suberect, branched, 3-4 feet high, smooth as also are the leaves. Panicles ovate ; branches slender, verticillate. Outer glumes of perfect floret purplisb, on one of which is a shallow pit. It is found in localities similar to where A. annulatus grows, but is not in such abundance. Roxburgh says that it is found thinly scattered on rather elevated spots over Bengal. A. intermedius, R. Br. Syn.—A. fascicularis, Thw. Vern.—CENT. PROV. : Kasi gadi, kachi gadi, and mular (Chanda) ; BERAR: Khar jhara. A tall rather coarse-looking grass with thick fibrous roots and long narrow leaves. Ii resembles A. Ischamum and A. pertusus in general appearance, but the panicles are more elongated and much more loose. Var. punctatus. Vern.—CENT. Prov. : Koda johor (Seoni). Onter glumes indented with a dorsal pit as in A. pertusus. It occurs in the hilly parts of Northern India, and is abundant on the Himalaya up to moderate elevations. The Seoni specimens have three shallow pits on the outer glumes of the sterile florets, and one deep pit on the glumes of the hermaphrodite floret. A. Ischemum, Linn. (Plate XXII.)* Vern.—Trans-Inpus: Tur- murgah (Col. Strong); Poxsas: Palwan (Rawal Pindi), phalwan (Bar), palwan (EK. Punjab), palwal (S. E. corner of Punjab); Raspurana: Bharo-bheru (Jeypur); N.-W. Prov.: Jarga (Aligarh and Muttra), janewa (Allahabad). Perennial. Root creeping. Stems erect, simple or with few branches ; nodes smooth or clothed with very short hairs, Spikes 5-10, in fas- _cicles, usually with a reddish tinge; rachis and pedicels of male spike- lets clothed with white hairs. Outer glumes of hermaphrodite spikelets acute. Flowering glume reduced to a slender twisted and bent awn about three times as long as the spikelet. Very similar in general appear- ance to A. pertusus and A. annulatus; from the former it differs by the absence of the pit on the back of the outer glumes, and from the latter in having the outer glumes narrower and acute. This species is common in the plains of Northern India, and is gener- ally considered to be a good fodder grass. A. lanci?folius, Trin. Syn —Batratherum molle, Nees. A small species, often only of annual duration. Stems decumbent, 1-13 feet, smooth except at the nodes. Leaves broadly ovate lanceolate with cordate amplexi- caul base, acuminate, softly hairy ; sheaths inflated. Spikes 3-2 inch long, 2-5 to- gether at the summit of slender capillary peduncles; nodes of rachis hairy. The flowering glume is furnished with a slender black awn bent below the middle, twice as long as the spikelets. Hilly parts of Northern India. As this grass usually occurs on rocky ground, and often in more or less inaccessible positions, it is not well adapted for grazing pur- poses, though its nutritive properties may very possibly be of equal value to those of the more commonly utilized species of Andropogon. A. laniger, Desf. (Plate XXIII.) Syn.—A. Iwarancusa, Roxb. (in part); A. Oliveriz, Bois.; Cymbopogon laniger, Desf. Vern.—Trans- * See also Plate C., Fig. 14, of present Volume. ( 36") Inpus: Sir ghurai (Col. Strong); Puysaz : Soldra, bur (South Punjab), khair (Jhang), gandhi (J. R. D.), khawi (Central and N.-W. Punjab) ; Rasputana: Gander (Ajmere), runa (Merwara), dabsulo (Jeypur); N.-W. Prov.: Babhori (Ktawah); Maratui: Jaramkush, azkhir, and khavi (Dymock); Hinp1: Gandel (Col. Strong). , Perennial, cespitose. Stems erect, thick and woolly below. Leaves smooth, glaucous, stiff; blades narrow and convolute. Panicles erect, narrowly oblong, composed of distant fascicles of spikes surrounded at the base by blunt boat-shaped yellowish sheaths. Rachis and pedicels of the awnless male spikelets densely clothed with white hairs. Flower- ing glumes of hermaphrodite florets minute, transparent, bidentate, and — with a very slender bent awn from between the teeth. This is one of the sweet-scented grass, the roots of which are some- times used like khas-khas in the manufacture of tatties. It is common on uncultivated land in Sindh, the Punjab, Rajputana and parts of the - nutritive qualities. It is, however, largely made use of by cattle when it is young and tender. Its scent is said to affect the flavour of their milk, It is often stacked and forms a useful supply in times of scarcity. Mr. Coldstream says that it will keep good in stack for upwards of 10 or 12 years. For horses it is not to be recommended. Mr. J. B. Hallen tells me that the natives of Chattar in Beluchistan state that cattle eat it with impunity, but that horses suffer from colic after feeding on it. Col. Strong also mentions the same circumstance. In the Jhang Settlement Report it is stated that the khair grass grows in hollows where water collects, and seems to prefer kallar, that cows graze upon it if hard pressed, but not otherwise; also that the ddr housewives use wisps of this grass to clean out vessels used for churning and holding milk. A perfume is manufactured from it, and the aromatic oil is some- times used as a cooling medicine. For further information regarding the history and medicinal properties of this grass reference should be made to Dr. Dymock’s “‘ Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India,” p. 850. A. muricatus, Retz. (Plate XXI1V.)* Syn.—A. squarrosus, Linn. ; Anatherum muricatum, Retz.; Rhaphis muricata, Nees; Vetiveria odo- rata, Virey. Vern.—Gernerat: Panni and khas-khas (roots); Trans- Inpus: Mushkani (Col. Strong); Punsaz: Biran (stems) (Kangra), pdnni (Bagri dialects and 8, Punjab), sink (stems) (E. Punjab); * See also Plate C., fig. 15, of present Volume. BuNDELKHAND: Ganrar, onet, orai, durbachi (Jhdnsi); N.-W. Proy. and Oupu: Sink-jhdru (Dehra Din), ganrar (Muttra), gaénraér (Allaha- bad}, garar and gandel (Mainpuri), gandar (Bhira), gander (Kheri) ; Cent. Prov.: Urai (Balaghat), ursort (Chinda); Maratur: Varelu and ushir (Dymock); BeneaLt: Bena (Roxb,), Siron (Santali); Tamin: Woetiwear (Roxb.); 8. Inpra: Vettiver. Perennial. Roots composed of long spongy brownish coloured fibres. Stems many, smooth, simple, erect, 4-6 feet high. Leaves near the base. bifarious, narrow, erect, smooth, 2-3 feet long. Panicle conical, 6 inches to 1 foot, composed of many simple linear spike-like racemes arranged in verticels. Flowers in pairs, without awns. Glumes of hermaphro- dite florets nearly equal, muricated on the back. Generally distributed throughout the plains of Northern India, espe- cially on moist low-lying land. It affords good fodder when young, and is much relished by buffaloes. It is not stacked as fodder, and the cut grass is given to cattle only in seasons of excessive drought. This grass is used largely as a thatching material; and the fragrant roots, known under the name of khas-khas, are used all over Northern India in the manufacture of tatties. In the Sirsa Settlement Report itis stated that the roots are dug.up by the villagers, who sometimes pay the owner of the ground a small fee of 4 annas per digger, and’that they are sold at about a rupee a maund to banyas, who send them to Lahore and Feroze- pur. In the Jhang Settlement Report mention is made of the tough roots being used for making rope, and also the brushes used by the weavers for arranging the threads of the web. The brushes of the Saharanpur and Dehra Din weavers are of the same material. Bas- kets are made of the stems (sink), which are sometimes dyed. At Bhira, in Oudh, a perfume called ztar is extracted, and used medicinally under the name of uwraiya. For further information regarding the medi- cinal properties of this grass, sce Dr. Dymock’s “‘ Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India,” p. 851. A. pachyarthrus, Hack. (Plate LIX.) Syn.—A. demissus, Steud. Vern.—BuNDELKHAND: Gangerua; Cent, Prov.: Mdlakaya (Nagpur), malka-phalka (Chanda), Stems erect, smooth, 6 inches to 14 feet high. Leaves rather small, the upper ones reduced to sheaths. Panicles embraced by the leaf sheaths, of many terminal and axillary spikes on a slender jointed ped- uncle. Outer glume of hermaphrodite floret cuspidate ; flowering glume reduced to a long slender bent awn. Common on open usar soil in Rajputéna and Bundelkhand, and on a re ( 38 ) sandy soil in the Central Provinces. It is considered to be a good fodder grass for cattle, but not for horses. A. pertusus, Willd. (Plate XXV.)* Syn.—Lepeocercis pertusus, Hassk.; Holcus pertusus, Linn. Vern.—Gernerau: Palwa; Punsas: Palwal and parwal (S.-E, Punjab), palwén (KE. Punjab), girje (Hissar) ; Rasputana: Chirrya (Ajmere), chapruro (Jeypur); N.-W. Prov.: uy Janewa (Allahabad); Bunpetkuanp: Rukah (Banda) and tikriya; ~ | Cent. Prov.: Chota piya and vida-gucha gadi (Chanda), gohhaya (Nag- pur), malhar (Balaghat); Berar: Killa. Perennial. Stems creeping at the base, erect above, bearded at the nodes. Leaves narrow, tapering to a fine point, hairy at the mouth of the sheath. Spikes 5-9, fascicled. Rachis and pedicels of male spikelets clothed with white hairs. Outer glume of hermaphrodite spikelet hard, acute, clothed with long silky hairs below, and a little above the middle © * there is a round or ovate pit. Flowering glume reduced to a bent and ; twisted awn considerably longer than the spikelet. | ys This grass, which is met with all over the plains of Northern India, . > is universally esteemed as a good fodder grass, both for grazing and stacking. In Australia also it is highly valued, being regarded as one of f the best grasses to stand long droughts, while it will bear any amount of feeding. It is useful also as a winter grass if the weather is not too severe, A. Schcenanthus, Linn. (Plate XXVI.) Syn.—A. Martini, Roxb.; A, pachnodes, Trin.; A. Calamus-aromaticus, Royle. Vern.—PunsaB: ~ Dang rhauns and mirchia gand (Outer Simla Hills), makora (Kangra), gandi_(N.-E. Punjab), rosa (Rawal Pindi,) rauns (Hissar), panni (S.-W. Punjab), rhausa (S.-E. Punjab); Raspurana: Rhaunsa and roinsa (Aj- mere), rauns (Mount Abu); BunpELKHAND: Mircha, mirchua, chipara, rauns, mirchia, and bhor (Banda); Cent. Proyv.: Rosa and thikari (Bala- ghat), tikadi-moti (Nagpur); Berar: Zikhart; Maratut: Roshegavat and rohish (Dymock); BenaaL: Gundha-bena, iwarankusha, ibharan- ae kusha and kurankusha (Roxb.). | Gk eae Perennial. Stems many, erect, 3-6 feet high, terete and finely striate; joints swollen; sheaths loose, smooth, shorter than the joints} ligule very short. Leaves broad, rounded and }-amplexicaul at the base, smooth except the hispid margins. Panicle 14 feet or more, contracted, composed of numerous fascicles of slender pedicelled spikes which are surrounded at the base and sometimes concealed within boat-shaped bracts. The bracts turn to a brilliant reddish colour when mature. Rachis and ® See also Plate C., Fig. 16, of present Volume. ( 39 ) pedicels clothed with white hairs, Flowering glume of fertile spikelet reduced to a slender bent awn. Plentiful in certain parts of Northern India, and at low elevations on the Himalaya. It is largely used for fodder in Rajputana, Bundelkhand and in the Central Provinces, where it is abundant in company with Heteropogon contortus, Andropogon muricatus, and Iseilema laxum (musel), usually on low-lying swampy ground. It is not considered to be a very good fodder grass either for grazing or stacking. In Rajput- ana it usually forms the roof portion of the stacks composed of musel and spear-grass. It is much used for thatching and sometimes for _ tatties. A fragrant oil, known as rusa ka tel, is extracted, and is used ce as a remedy for rheumatism, and from the roots a drug is prepared and employed in cases of intermittent fever. For further informa- tion, see Dr. Dymock’s ** Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India,” p. 847. A. tropicus, Spreng. Syn.—Holcus fulvus, R. Br. ; Sorghum fulvum, Beauv. ; S. muticum, Nees. Vern.—OUDH: Hutia (Kheri). A tall rather slender grass. Stems densely hairy at the nodes. Leaves narrow, scabrous. Panicle loose, 4-Sinches. Hairs of pedicels and spikelets of a rich brown _colour. Sessile spikelets black and shining when ripe. Hilly parts of Northern India. It is occasionally used as fodder. __~/ 39. CHRYSOPOGON, Trin. This genus, which consists of about 20 species distributed over tropical and temperate regions, is distin- guished by having the spikelets in threes terminating the filiform jointed branchlets of the panicle, the central one being sessile and fertile, and ‘the lateral stalked and sterile, with occasionally 1-3 additional pairs of spikelets below the terminal triplets. C. aeiculatus, Zrin. Syn.—Andropogon aciculatus, Retz; A. acicularis, Kunth ; Rhaphis trivialis, Lour. Vern.—BENGAL: Chora-kénta (Roxb.). Perennial, czspitose. Stems prostrate, creeping, and much branched below. Leaves with long sheaths and shortish blades, Panicles narrow, compact ; pedicels hairy. Plains of Northern India, on wet barren soil. This grass is of little or no use as fodder, ~_C._cceruleus;-Wees. (Plate LX.) Syn.—Rhaphis cerulea, Nees, Vern.—PonsaB: Dhaulian (Himalaya), khar (Salt Range); N.-W. Proy.: Dhaula (Siwalik Range), ghweta (Kumaun); BunpeLKHAND : Tigri; Cent. Prov.: Palla paggar gadi (Chanda); Berar: Jhingra- ka-jhara, and khidi. | : Perennial, czspitose. Leaves glaucous, long and narrow, hispid. Panicle loose. Spikelets on long filiform peduncles, usually of a bluish tinge. : . Ny wef | ee % \\ 74 - ( 40 ) Common in hilly parts of Northern India, usually on stony or sandy soil. On the Siwalik range it is used extensively as fodder. C. Gryllus, Zrin.* Syn.—Andropogon Gryllus, Linn.; Holcus Gryllus, R. Br. Perennial, ceespitose. Leaves long, narrow. Panicle loose, spreading, 3 to 6 inches Second glume of fertile floret awned ; awn of terminal one long and rigid. Hilly parts of Northern India It is said to be an excellent pasture grass in Australia. long, branches numerous, simple, capillary, mostly verticellate, of unequal length. -C. montanus, Trin. Syn.—C. parviflorus, Benth.; Andropogon mon- tanus, Roxb.; A. monticola, R. and §.; pd! parviflorum, Beauv. ns Tere Ballak (Mount Abu). ’ ‘% Calg? Perennial. Stems 3 feet, more or less itil at ihe nodes. Leaves —e flat, tapering to a fine point; sheaths smooth or villous. Panicle 4-8 inches long, much branched; ultimate branches hair-like, supporting minute spikelets scarcely 14 finds long.% Central sessile spikelet with- | ; a tuft of white hairs at the ‘base. au ot f flowering glume six or seven times its length. : ee te a ‘) _ Hilly parts of Northern inka “On Mount Abu I found several patches of this very elegant grass growing in depressions of the hill overlooking the Civil station. Itis said there to be an excellent fodder grass, and the grain is collected and used as food by the natives. C. serrulatus, Zrin. Is recorded from Jhelam (Aitchison), Moradabad (T. Thomson), and Banda (Edgeworth). 40. SORGHUM, Pers. There are two species, both of which oc- and the other a widely distributed grass known as “baru.” The arrangement and structure of the spikelets is very similar to that of Chrysopogon, but the panicle branches are scarcely jointed, and the outer glume of the fertile spikelet is ovate and becomes hard. S.halepense, Pers. (Plate XXVII.)¢ Syn.—Holceus halepensis, Linn. ; Andropogon halepensis, Sibth.; A. arundinaceus, Scop. Vern.— GENERAL: Baru; Kasamir: Braham (Stewart) ; Kumaun: Bikhonda (Watson); Bunpenknanp: Béjra, barrw and bara (Banda); Cent. Prov.: Galla jari and padda jalla gadi (Chanda) ; Berar: Kartal. A tall perennial with creeping rhizome which throws up many suckers. Stems many and branching. Leaves flat, smooth; midrib prominent beneath. Panicle pyramidal, with numerous spreading branches. Her- cur in India; one is “juar,” maphrodite spikelets ovate oblong. Male spikelets oblong lanceolate, — all clothed with short hairs at the base; glumes pubescent, grain oblong. ® See Plate D., Fig. 17, of present Volume. t See also Plate D., Fig. 18, of present Volume. ( 41 ) Common all over Northern India in cultivated and uncultivated ground, ‘It is considered to be a good fodder grass both for grazing and as hay- Various reports however indicate its injurious effects on cattle if eaten when too young, or when the plants are stunted by drought. The same results have been observed to take place in the case of juar (Sor- ghum vulgare). Dr. Stewart was told in Hazara that cattle, after eating it, are often attacked by fatal head affections. In Gujranwala, Gujrat and Shahpur districts it is said to be poisonous until the rains are over, when cattle eat it with impunity. Tod, in his “ Rajasthan,” Vol. ii., p. 170, mentions that the seed of this grass is collected, and mixed with ddéjra flour is eaten by the poorer classes in Bikanir. In Australia it is valued both for pasturage and hay, and is much sought after by cattle. Native pens are made from the stems of this plant. No allusion is made regarding the injurious properties of this grass when young, either in Australia or in the United States. In the latter country, where it is known as ‘‘ Johnson grass,” ‘“ Cuba grass,” ‘“‘ Mean’s grass,” and “False Guinea grass,” it is highly valued as the following extracts from Dr. Vasey’s “‘ Report on the Grasses of the South,” pages 16 and 17 (1887) will show :— “ Mr. N. B. Moore has cultivated this grass for 40 years and prefers it to all others, is perennial, is as nutritious as any other, difficult to eradicate, will grow on ordinary soil, and yields abundantly. ‘‘ TIorses and cattle are fond of it both in its dry and green condition. Probably no grass gives better promise for the dry arid lands of the West. “ This grass is best adapted to warm climates, and has proved most valuable on warm dry soils in the Southern States..... .. Its chief value is for hay, in regions where other grasses fail on account of drought. If cut early the hay is of good qua- lity, and several cuttings may be made in the season. “In California it is known as ‘ Kvergreen’ or ‘ Arabian Millet’. It roots deep in the subsoil, and where that is at all alkaline, it grows enormously, but at the same time absorbs so much of the unpalatable alkali that stock will not eat it. It is excellent for dry hills free from alkali,” S. vulgare, Pers. Syn.—Holcus Sorghum, Linn., Andropogon Sor- ghum, Brot. Vern.—GerneraL: Jugr, chari (sown close for fodder); PonsaB: Jodr (Stewart), N.-W. Prov. and Oupy: Junri (Western Districts), choti judr and choti junri (Oudh and Benares), bdjra-jhupanwa (Azamgarh); Benga: Kasa-jonar (Chutia Nagpur); Tetine: Janoo, konda and tella (Roxb.); S. Inp1a: Cholum. A tall handsome grass. Stems erect, thick, succulent, often tinged with red or yellowish blotches. Leaf blades broad, narrowing gradually to their tips, smooth except at their junction with the sheath; midrib prominent beneath, channelled above; sheaths very long. Flowers in dense ovate panicles; heads nodding before ripening. Spikelets in pairs, 1-flowered, one sessile and hermaphrodite, the other stalked and G@ (42 ) male. Glumes about equal, hard and firm, especially those of the fertile florets. Grain about 23-inch long, smooth, white orred. For figures, see ‘‘ Wield and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” Part I., Plate VI., and “ Church’s Food Grains of India,” Fig. 15. Largely cultivated all over India, chiefly for its grain. The stalks are extensively used as fodder, and when chopped up is known by the name of karbi. When specially grown for fodder purposes it is called chart. It is a valuable and favourite fodder for cattle, but is said to have injurious effects if eaten too young. — 41. ANTHISTIRIA, Linn. f. Species about 8, mostly tropical. This genus is easily recognized by its indloressonys the spikelets being arranged in short spikes-er-elasters. Hach-cluster is composed of seven or more spikelets, the two lower pairs being either empty, or with a male floret in each, and disposed in the form of an involucre surrounding the three inner ones. ‘The central one of these three inner spikelets is sessile and fertile, the two lateral ones being stalked and sterile as in Chrysopogon. Occasionally there are one or more extra pairs of spike- lets within those which form the involucre. A. anathera, Necs. Syn.—Androscepia anathera, Anders. Vern.—PUNJAB : Kohdi (Gujrat). - Perennial, glaucous. Stems 2-4 feet, smooth, thickened at the nodes. Leaves long, narrow at the base, ciliate especially at the mouth of the sheaths. Clusters erect, stalked, arranged in an elongate loose panicle, and subtended by spathe-like reddish bracts. _Spikelets about nine, without awns ; the lower six male, their outer glumes clothed with long white hairs seated on tubercles ; seventh spikelet hermaphrodite, glumes not ciliate ; the two upper spikelets male, nearly smooth. Hilly parts of lyaxthars India, and up to 8,000 feet on the Himalaya, where it is largely used as fodder. Madden remarks that in Kumaun the roots are said to be frequently luminous, whence it is there called “ jyotishmati.” A. arundinacea, Roxb. Vern.--Bharua (Stewart), kangua (Kumaun), nla (Oudh). A tall perennial grass, 6-12 feet or more. Stems smooth, filled with spongy pith ; joints large. Leaves 4-8 feet, with hispid margins ; sheaths smooth, compressed. Clusters of many large slender stalked drooping spikelets, each subtended by a boat- shaped bract. Spikelets composed of four sessile awnless accessory male florets surrounding and inserted on a short club-shaped pedicel which supports an herma- phrodite awned floret and two stalked awnless ones. Outer glumes of male florets clothed with much golden coloured hair. Outer glumes of hermaphrodite floret vil- lous, the flowering glume reduced to a long twisted and bent awn nearly four times the length of the spikelet. This grass is found in large clumps in wet pasture land. It is eaten only when very young. A. gigantea, Cav. Is another tall grass resembling the above, and occurring in similar localities. The spikelets are smaller, more crowded, and the hairs on the glumes are shorter and of a deep brown colour. ange A. ciliata, Linn. f.* Syn.—A. australis, R. Br.; A. cceespitosa, An-\ * See Plate D., Fig. 19, of present Volume. ( 43 ) ders.; Themeda ciliata, Hack. Vern.—-Cent. Prov.: Chudur jahara (Seoni); Berar: Gondalli. Stems 1-3 feet high. Leaves narrow, ciliate at the base. Clusters of spikelets few, the lower ones on slender peduncles, Bracts subtend- ing each spike sheathing at the base, and tapering into points longer than the cluster. Spikelets narrow, four male or barren ones sessile at the base of the bearded rachis, and two or one stalked at the top, glabrous or clothed with a few long hairs. Fertile terminal spikelet glabrous or shortly pubescent at the end; awn twice as long as the spikelet. _Hilly parts of Northern India, common on the Himalaya, It is abun- dant in Australia and Tasmania, and well known under the name of _-», “Kangaroo grass.” It is considered by Australian farmers an excel- lent grass for stock. A. seandens, Roxb. (Plate LXI.) Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Bhoru _. (Allahabad); BunpELKHanp : Guner, ganori, ganaiya and genehru; Ras- _PUrANa: : Gendar (Mount Abu); Cent. Prov.: Ghonydr and era-kolla- gadi (Chanda), ghonadi and ghonaél (Nagpur), ghunhair and titar (Bala- ghat). Perennial. Stems scandent, Seuneratie and rooting from the lower joints. Panicles large, composed of verticelled fascicles of spikelets which turn to a bright reddish colour after er flowering. Summit of glumes _ of outer spikelets of each fascicle beset with hairs seated on tubercles. Awn hairy, twisted, and slightly bent, much longer than the spikelet. Common in Rajputana, Bundelkhand, and the Central Provinces, It is used for fodder and for thatching purposes. This’ species differs from A. ciliata in being a perennial, and usually scandent. | A. Themeda Forskalii, Hack. Syn.—A. ciliata, Auct. (non Linn.) Vern.—CENT. PRov.: Hra-kolla-gadi and tatiydn (Chanda). Stems thick, and ~ swollen at the nodes. Resembles A. scandens, Roxb., in habit, but rachis of panicle more slender. Clusters in a more interrupted panicle, narrower and with shorter bracts. I have received specimens from Gwalior and from the Central Provinces. Var. major. Vern.—CENT. PROV.: Gudda-niko-gadi, and eraj-tukra-gadi (Chanda). Clusters larger and more compact ; altogether a more robust plant than that of the type. 42. ISEILEMA, Anders. Species 3, of which two are Indian and One Australian. In habit they have a close resemblance to Apluda. The clusters of spikelets are small and glabrous. The spikelets are stalked, and each is enclosed within a sheathing bract. I.laxum, Hack. (Plate XXVIII.) Syn.—JF. prostraia, Anders. Vern.—GeENERAL: Gandhi and gdndhi; Punsas: Champ (Simla Hills), luinjt (Kangra), chhat (Rawal Pindi), gdéadi (Hissar); Raspuraya: ( 44 ) Karar-gandhel-dungarko (Jeypur) ; BuNDELKHAND : Muse!, musidl, and machauri (Lalitpur); Cent. Prov.: Masdn, manchi-malwa and ma- lwajari (Chanda), masdn, tikha-lodan and gonda (Nagpur), ghorayal (Seoni). ; Annual. Stems numerous, suberect or prostrate, 1-23 feet. Leaves rather short; blades of upper ones much reduced, ciliate at the mouth of the inflated sheaths. Panicles slender; clusters of spikelets termi- nal and axillary, rather distant. Bracts longer than the spikelets, mem- branous at the edges, and usually with the remnant of the blade which is ciliate at the base. Pedicels with tufts of hairs at the base. Herma- phrodite florets with long slender twisted and slightly bent awns. Common in the plains of Northern India on low-lying land where the soil is good. In Bundelkhand this grass is abundant and largely used as fodder, and is prized above all other kinds. It is sweet scented when fresh. Mr. Coldstream says that it is very common in the Hissar bir swamps, in good land; and that where it will grow wheat will grow. It is both grazed and stacked, and is much eaten by buffaloes. I. Wightii, Anders. Syn.—Anthistiria Wightii, Nees.; A. Bladhi, Wight; A. prostrata, Trin. Vern.—Punsas : Ganni(Gujranwdla, Shah- pur and Lahore); N.-W. Prov.: Gandel (Aligarh); Cent. Prov. : Ghor-masdn, musdn and pulsu-malwa-gadi (Chanda), musdn (Bala- ghat). | Very similar to the preceding species, but usually more diffuse and often quite prostrate, The clusters of spikelets are smaller, and usually more exserted from the bracts; and the keel and edges of the bracts are studded with papillose excrescences. Plains of Northern India on low lying or swampy ground. In Bundel- khand and the Central Provinces it is frequently the prevailing grass on the black soil, its reddish coloured stems and spikelets rendering it a conspicuous object from a considerable distance. Its value as fodder is probably equal to that of Z. laxum. 43. APLUDA, Linn.* There are 2 species, both of them occurring | in India. The arrangement of the spikelets is rather peculiar and some- what puzzling. ach cluster contains a triple branch of spikelets en- closed in a sheathing bract; the central sessile branch is composed of a fertile floret with a male floret below it, and on either side are two flat- tened pedicels, each bearing a rudimentary or barren spikelet. A. aristata, Linn. (Plate XXIX). Syn.—A, rostrata, Nees. Vern. —GeENERAL: Gandhi; Punsas: Ganni (Lahore), santhran (Kangra), « See Plate D., Fig. 20, of present Volume. oy aN > ( #4 munmona (Patiala Hills), murmuru (E. Punjab); Rasputana: Gawdn (Jeypur), bhankta (Ajmere), donta (Mount Abu); N.-W. Prov.: Baru (General), dhajura (Etawah), bhanjura (Allahabad) ; Buype.KHanpn : Bhangri or bhanjuri and send (Banda); Cent. Prov.: Gugar-gadi and kattingiya sufed (Chanda), bhus-jart (Seoni); Brneau: Durhi ghds (Santal), goroma (Roxb.) ; Texina: Pootstrangali (Roxb.). Perennial. Stems creeping or scandent, often reddish coloured, lower parts naked. Flowering branches erect, one to several feet high. Leaves somewhat bifarious, backwardly hispid. Spikelets in a large leafy panicle; bracts boat-shaped, with an awn-like point, enclosing three sets of florets ; j os _ the central branch contains a fertile awned floret with a male floret on "one ‘side of it; the lateral branches consist of sterile rudimentary florets supported by flattened pedicels. - Very common all over the plains of N.-W. India and at low elevations on the Himalaya. In hedges and bushy places it usually assumes a | climbing habit. In forest land it often constitutes a large portion of \ the under-growth. It is considered to be a fairly good fodder grass, and \is readily eaten by cattle when young. SERIES B. POACE. TRIBE VII. PHALARIDEZ. 44. PHALARIS, Zinn. Two_out of the nine or ten described species are found it Upper India, but neither of them possess any appreciable value as fodder plants. The spikelets are densely packed in an oval spikelike panicle, The two infe- rior glumes remain persistent under the joint ; they are longer than the other glumes, and are furnished with a more or less broadly winged keel. P. minor, Retz., is a common weed on cultivated land in the plains, and up to about 4, 000° feet oi the Himalaya, P. paradoxa, Linn. f., has been recorded from Lahore by Stewart, but I ~ have seen no specimens. P. canariensis, Linn., (Canary grass,) and P. arundinacea, Linn., are introductions. 45. CRYPSIS, Ait. Contains a single species inhabiting S. Eu- rope, N. Africa, and N.-W. India. It is a small annual grass with prostrate stiff brittle branches. The spikelets are in dense heads, which are surrounded by 2-3 sheathing bracts. It has four glumes (none below the joint as in Phalaris), and two stamens. C. aculeata, Ait. (Plate LXII.)* Syn.—Schenus aculeatus, Linn. ; Anthoxanthum aculeatum, Linn.; Phleum schenoides, Jacq.; Antitragus * See also Plate D., Fig. 21, of present Volume. ( 46) aculeatus, Gertn.; Heleochloa diandra, Host. P. fugax, Nees. Ce ee The spike-like panicles are larger and more distinctly branched ‘than those of P. monspeliensis. The much shorter awns and larger | spikelets give it also a very dif- ferent aspect. ew a Chu? Plains and hills of Northern India, usually on wet ground. It occurs also in Aus- ay tralia, It is of little value for fodder, TRIBE IX. AVENE. 51. AVENA, Zinn. Species about 40, chiefly confined to the tem- perate regions of the old world. The spikelets are 3-5 flowered and arranged in a loose panicle. ‘The flowering glume is rounded on the back, 2-cleft at the summit, and many-nerved; from its back arises a long twisted and bent awn. The ripe grain which is usually adherent to the pale is furrowed in front. There are no indigenous. species to be __ found i in the plains of Northern India. The two which will be presently | anal are the cultivated oat, and the other is an introduced weed, which occasionally makes its appearance in wheat and barley fields, and | has been supposed by some to be a degenerate form of oats. A. fatua, Linn. Vern.—Punsaz: Gandal, ganer, and jet (Stewart), ganhel (Cent. Punjab), gozang (Chenab), jandel (Cent. and S.-W. Punjab). Flowering glumes of a firm texture at the base, and covered outside with long brown hairs. I have received no particular information as to its value for fodder in this country. Dr. Vasey in his “‘ Report on the Agricultural Grasses of the United States ” mentions— “that some people have thought this species to be the original of the cultivated oats, but that the alleged facts are not sufficiently established. It differs from it in having more florets in the spikelets, in the long brown hairs which cover the flowering glumes, in the constant presence of the long twisted awn, and in the smaller size and lighter weight of the grain. It isa great injury to any grain field, in which it may be introduced, but for the purpose of fodder, of which it makes a good quality, it has been much employed in California.”’ A, sativa, Linn.,* (Oats). Vern.—Jai or jawi. Cultivated in N.-W. India principally as green fodder for horses. It is largely grown for this purpose at the Saharanpur and Hapur Stud depéts, and at the Hissar Cattle Farm, and is also stacked. For descrip- tion and figure, see “ Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” Part I. 52. TRISTACHYA, Nees. There are & species, American and tropical African, and one (7. re, mentioned by Boissier as occurring in Sindh and Beluchistan. Spikelets in threes at the ends of the panicle branches, 2-flowered. * See Plate E., Fig. 26, of present Volume. (2a Lower floret male, upper hermaphrodite or female. Awn of the flowering glume terminal between the two lobes. Nothing appears to be known regarding its value for fodder. TRIBE X. CHLORIDE. 53. SCHQGSNEFELDIA, Kunth. Contains a single species con- fined to tropical Africa and the drier portions of N.-W. India. S. gracilis, Kunth.,* (Plate ae Syn—sS. pallida, Wdgew. ; S. ramosa, Trin, Annual, Stemsmany. Leaves narrow. Spikes long, solitary or 2-4 together at the top of the stem. Awns of the flowering glumes long. and slender, often becoming curved. Whole plant of a pale straw colour. Grows in dry sandy ground in N.-W. India, also in the ravines bord- ering the Jumna and Chambal rivers. 54. CYNODON, Pers. This genus contains four species including the widely spread and well known dd. They all occur in Australia, two of them being confined to that country. The genus is distinguished by the following characters :—Spikes 2-6, slender, proceeding from the . summit of the peduncle. Spikelets small, 1--flowered, without awns, sessile . along one side of the simple spike-like branches of the panicle. Rachilla produced beyond the floret into a small point or bristle. The Cynodons have a superficial resemblance to some of the digitate-spiked species of — Panicum, but differ from them by the spikelets being pee! singly and not in pairs on the rachis. C. Dactylon, Pers., (Plate XX XIII.)+ Syn.—-C. stetlatus, Willd. ; Panicum Dactylon, Linn.; Digitaria Dactylon, Scop.; Paspalum Dac- tylon, D.C. Vern,—Generau: Dib; Trans-Inpus: Bardwa (Stewart) ; Pounsas:. Khabbar (Stewart), khabbal (Central and Western Punjab), talla and tilla (S.-W. and W. Punjab), dubra (Karnal); Raspurana: Dob (Ajmere), nili dub (Merwara); Buyperkuanp: Duba; N.-W. Prov. and Oupu: Kéli ghds (Doab), rém ghds (Bhira) ; Cent. Prov. : Dhupsa (Seoni), haridli (Chanda) ; Maratui: Durva, harala, haryeli (Dymock); Cuutia Naceur: Dhobi-ghds (Santal); Bancau: Doorba (Roxb.); Teting: Ghericha (Roxb.); Tamit: Arugam-pilla (Roxb.); Mapras: Haridlt. ; Perennial, glaucous. Stems prostrate, creeping and rooting from many nodes. Leaves short. Flowering stems ascending, Panicle of 3-5 slender spikes, each 1-14 inches long. Spikelets less than a line long; outer glumes nearly equal, open, narrow and pointed ; flowering glumes rather larger and much broader, becoming hardened when in fruit, smooth on the sides, rather rough on the keel and edges. * See Plate E., Fig. 26, of present Volume, ft See also Plaie H., Fig. 27. oe eee eae SS ee Ss =e -_— — C8) Abundant in the plains of North-West India, and up to 7 or 8,000 feet on the Himalaya. It is rarely found in the very sandy parts of Western Punjab, and in the black soils of Central India it is also scarce. Dub is by far the most useful of all fodder grasses, especially for horses. It is perennial, and flowers nearly all the year round. The foliage becomes scanty during the cold weather months, at which time it may be said to be at rest. It varies considerably in habit as well as in its nutritive qualities, according to the nature of the soil or climate. It makes excellent hay, and will keep good for many years in stack. It is considered to be. a first class fodder grass in Australia, where it is widely distributed, though in all probability introduced with cultivation. This grass is highly valued in the United States, where it is generally known under the name of ‘‘ Bermuda grass.” The following extracts are from Dr. Vasey’s “ Report on the Grasses of the South,” pages 26-28 (1887) :— ‘In Louisiana, Texas, and the sonth generally, it is and has been the chief reliance for pasture for a long time, and immense herds of cattle on the southern prairies subsist principally on thisfood . . . . It has the capacity to withstand any amount of heat and drought, and months that are so dry as to check the growth of blue grass (Poa arachnifera) will only make the Bermuda grass green and more thrifty ” (Professor Killebrew), “ Bermuda grass grows on any kind of soil in Texas, but will not stand the tramp- ling of stock on loose sandy soil. It is hard to beat for a grazing grass, though long continued droughts cause it to dry up” (Mr. M. M. Martin, Central Texas). ‘While this is the most northern limit of Bermuda grass, it is also the most southern limit of Blue grass. The two growing together on the same land pro- duce a most perfect pasture, as the Blue grass is green all the fall, winter, and spring months, while during the heat of summer, which prevents the growth of the Blue grass, the Bermuda flourishes. The two together in good strong soil make a perfect pasture, good all the year round” (Mr. J. B. Wade, N. Georgia). “The time is not far distant when all the rough feed consumed on plantations will be made of this grass, and when the planter will consider his hay crop of more importance than his sugar and cotton. No other grass will yield such an amount of valuable hay, surpass it in nutritious qualities, or support on an acre of pasture such an amount of stock’ (Mr. Affleck in Professor Killebrew’s Grasses of Tennessee). 55. CHLORIS, Swartz. There are about 40 species, all of them occurring in warm latitudes. The spikes are either crowded at the sum- mit of the peduncle, or are arranged in verticels. Spikelets 1-flowered, placed in two rows on one side of the simple spikes. Flowering glumes awned, C.barbata, Swartz. (Plate XXXIV.) Syn.—Andropogon barba- tus, Linn.; C. decora, Nees. Vern.—Ponsas : Ganni (Kangra), jharna (S. and EH. Punjab); Raspurana: Phundi (Ajmere), punji (Merwara), chhinkri (Jeypur); N.-W. Proy.: Gandé gavung and paluah (Royle), ( 56) jargi (Allahabad) ; Cent. Prov.: Bédrdiya (Chanda), phulkia (Bala- ghét); Berar: Botya jhara. Stems creeping below and branching, joints smooth. Leaves bifarious at the base of the stems, their margins and mouths of sheaths ciliate. Spikes 6-12, digitate, secund, 1-2 inches long; rachis striated, not hairy. Spikelets 2-flowered; upper floret composed of one or more empty glumes; the lower one fertile and sessile. Flowering glume and pale with hairs at the base. Common in N.-W. India especially on sandy soils. It is considered a good fodder grass up to the time of flowering, after which time cattle will not touch it. C. Roxburghiana, Edgew. (Plate LXV.) Syn.—C. digitata, Steud ; Melica digitata, Roxb. Vern.—Rasputana: Bamna (Ajmere); Bun- DELKHAND: Mathaniya (Lalitpur); Cent. Prov.: Hika gadi and sala- kodam gadi (Chanda). Stems procumbent, or erect when growing amongst bushes. Both surfaces and sheaths of leaves hairy. Spikes terminal, 4-5, secund, filiform, 6-9 inches long hairy at the base. Spikelets in two rows, sessile. Outer glumes unequal, inner 8-4 times longer, and shortly awned. Flowering glume with a long awn issuing just below its apex from outside. This grass has a superficial resemblance to Panicum san- guinale. Not uncommon in Northern India, and ofter growing amongst bushes, where its stems attain a considerable height. Mr. Lowrie tells me ‘that it is considered to be a good fodder grass at Ajmere. C. tenella, Roxb. (Plate LX VI.) Vern.—Rasrutana: Kdgya (Aj- mere), morbhaga ghas (Udaipur). Stems erect from a decumbent base, about one foot high, smooth. ~ Leaves rather large in proportion to the plant, smooth and soft. Spikes solitary or in pairs, secund, about 2 inches long. Spikelets 3-5-flow- ered, the fifth one being rudimentary. Rajputana, Bundelkhand, and Central Provinces. At Ajmere it is said to be a good fodder grass. : 56. MELANOCENCHRIS, Wees. Species 3, one of which is found in Northern India. The spikelets are arranged in many short scattered clusters, which fall away at the joints. The two lower empty glumes are clothed with long feathery hairs; the flowering glumes are 3-fid, their lobes almost aristate. | M. Royleana, Nees. (Plate LXVII.) Syn.—LEutriana abyssinica, R. Br.; MM. Jacquemontiana, Jaub. and Spach. Annual. Stems many, 6-10 inches. Leaves narrow, upper sheaths = « mt a ee ee ee ( 55) Jong, edges of leaves and their sheaths ciliate. Spikelets in separate clusters, directed to one side of the curved common peduncle. Empty glumes densely hairy below, and awned. A diminutive and very elegant grass, not uncommon in sandy or stony ground in Northern India. It is said to be a good grazing grass when young, though rather too small to be of much account. 57. THTRAPOGON, Desf. There are 4 species, one of which is plentiful in certain parts of Northern India. In general appearance it resembles a Chloris, but the spikelets are 3-4-flowered; whilst in Chloris they are only 1-flowered. The spikes are erect, 1-3, and covered with long silky hairs. Flowering glumes awned. T. villosus, Desf. (Plate LXVIII.) Syn.—Chloris aie Pers. Vern.—Punsazs: Khera-madhdna and sager (Salt Range); Rasputana: Kalia (Ajmere); N.-W. Prov.: Phulni (Htah), okuna (Cawnpore) ; Cent. Prov.: Phundra jadi (Seoni). Perennial, cespitose. Stems erect, upper parts rather free of foliage. Leaves glabrous, narrowly linear. Spikes in pairs, often coalescing so as to appear single. Spikelets 4-5-flowered. Lower glume acute, upper mucronate from a rounded apex; flowering glume cbovate, obtuse, with long silky hairs from the back, with an awn twice as long as itself springing from just below the obtuse or retuse apex. Common on sterile land in the plains of Northern India, and consider- ed to be a good fodder grass at Ajmere. It is very abundant on some of the saline usar tracts in the Dodb, frequently constituting the sole vegetation, but usually selecting less infected patches than those occu- pied by the true usar grass, Sporobolus orientalis. 58. DINEBRA, Jacg. This genus contains a single species, which is confined to tropical Africa and Northern India. Spikes several, scat- tered along the peduncle. Spikelets 2-5-flowered. Flowering glumes bluntish, much shorter than the somewhat awned lower empty ones. D. arabica, Beauv.* Syn.—D. retroflexa, Panz.; D. egyptiaca, Jacq.; Leptochloa arabica, Kunth; Cynosurus retroflecus, Vahl; Dacty- lis paspaloides, Willd.; Eleusine calycina, Roxb. Vern.—Crnt. Prov.: Bara sarpot (Chanda), maljhanji (Seoni) ; Trtine: Wadata-toka gaddee (Roxb.), Annual. Stems erect or prostrate, 1-3 feet, leafy at the base. Pan- icle narrow; spikes numerous, alternate, often reflexed, reddish when young. Spikelets 3-flowered; outer glumes equal, longer than the flow- ering glumes, * See Plate F., Eig. 28, of present Volume, Cb Punjab, Rajputdna, and in the Central Provinces; also in Bundel- khand, where I have usually found it in arhar fields on the black soil. A very ornamental grass, and probably nutritious, but being only an annual, and not very plentiful, it does not take a high place as a fodder grass. 59. ELEUSINE, Gerin. Contains about 7 species according to Bentham, nearly all of which are to be met with in Northern India. One of them is largely cultivated under the name of mandua, and the other species are more or less valuable for fodder. The spikes are digitate at the top of the peduncle, or verticellate. Spikelets many-flowered, ses- sile, crowded, and flattened. ‘The flowering glumes have no awns, and they are longer than the two inferior empty ones. The seed is transver- sely wrinkled, and often, especially in mandua, loose within the thin _ shell-like pericarp. } oF. egyptiaca, Pers. (Plate XXXV.)* Syn.—ZH. cruenta, Lamk ; Dactyloctenium egyptiacum, Willd. ; Cynosurus egyptiacus, Linn. Vern. —GeneraAL: Makra; Trans-Inpus: Chubrec (Stewart); Punsas: Madhéna (Punj. Plains and Salt Range), Kark-madhéna (Gujranwala and Shahpur Districts), Kar-madhdna (Lahore); Rasputana: Malicha (Ajmere), mansa (Mount Abu); N.-W. Prov.: Khermakra (Allahabad); BonperkuandD: Maka makna and tipakia (Banda); Crnt. Prov. : Math- na (Balaghat), chikara (Nagpur), chikara, chota mandya, and ute-sirkum jari or ute-sirla gadi (Chanda); Santa: Suntu bukrui (Campbell) ; Hinp.: Makur jali (Roxb.). Stems tufted, erect or creeping and rooting at the nodes after the manner of dub. Leaves flat, tapering to a fine point, ciliate, Spikes 3-5, digitate, varying from 3 to 2 inches in length. Spikelets regularly and closely packed on the underside of, and at right angles to, a promi- _nent angular rachis. Outer glume acute; the second broader, ‘its keel produced into a dorsal awn; rachis of spikelets produced beyond the outer glumes. Flowering glumes broad, tapering into short spreading points. Seed oval, 3-sided, transversely rugose, enclosed in a loose pericarp. Common all over Northern India, especially on cultivated ground. On dry sterile soils it assumes a more creeping habit, and produces very small spikes. It is generally considered to be a very nutritious grass both as forage and fodder. The seeds are eaten by the poorer classes. In the Lahore district it is said to be eaten by cattle, but not by horses. It occurs also in Australia, where it is much valued as a pasture grass. * See also Plate F., Fig. 29, of present Volume. C589 E. Coracana, Gertn. Syn.—Cynosurus coracanus, Linn, Vern.— GeneraL: Mandua, makra and marua; Pounsas: Kodon, koda, kutra and mandwa (Himalaya), kodra (Bias and Chenab basins), mandal ( Ravi basin); Bunpe.kuanp: Rotha (Jalaun); Beneat : Murha (Campbell) ; SantaL: Kode (Campbell); Texina: Pedda and sodee (Roxb.); S. Inpia: Régi. Stems erect, 2-4 feet high, compressed. Spikes digitate, usually in- curved. Spikelets 3-6-flowered. Glumes all obtuse. Pericarp loosely investing the small globular seed. Roxburgh’s £. stricta is a luxuriant variety with straight spikes. Cultivated as a kharif crop in Northern India, but chiefly on the lower slopes of the Northern Himalaya, where it sometimes provides the princi- pal food of the people. The stalks are given to cattle as fodder. It is figured in “ Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” Part II., Plate XXVIII., and in “ Church’s Food Grains of India,” Figs. 17 and 18. E. flagellifera, Nees. (Plate XX XVII.) Syn.—E. arabica, Hochst. ; E. stolonifera, R. Br. Vern.—GeneRAL: Chhimbar ; Trans-Inpus : Chubret and bhdéru (Stewart); Ponsap: Chemri (Stewart), chembri (Multan), chhembar (West of Sutlej), gathil (S. Punjab), ganthil and kharimbar (Sirsa), dubra (EK. Punjab); Rasputrana: G'anthia (Ajmere), ganth dob (Jeypur); Doan: Ghurdub (Royle). | Perennial, glaucous. Stems many from the bulb-like rooting nodes of a prostrate extensively creeping rhizome. Leaves narrowly linear, acuminate, stiff, distant, upper very short. Spikes 3-5, digitate, 5-8- flowered. Glumes lanceolate, smooth, the upper one very acute. Plains of Northern India, preferring a sandy soil. It is generally considered to be a very good fodder grass, both for horses and cattle, though in the Gujranwala and Shahpur districts it is supposed to dimin- ish the milk of cattle if eaten dry. In the Jhang Settlement Report it is mentioned as being the most common grass in the dar, and also one of the best. E, indica, Gertn. (Plate LXIX.) Syn.—Cynosurus indicus, Linn. Vern.—Rasrurana: Mandwa (Ajmere); N.-W. Prov. and OupH: Jhingri (Royle), makraila (Allahabad), gadha-charwa, gadha-mandwi and lijhar (Bhira); BunpeLKHanD: Gurchdwa; Cent. Prov.: Ghod- chabba (Balaghat), gurra gadi and kakariya (Chénda), madanya (Nag- pur), mandial jort (Seoni); Hiyp.: Mal-ankuri (Roxb.); Trine : Kuror (Roxb.). Annual, Stems erect, 1-2 feet, compressed, smooth, branching below. Leaves glabrous, flat; ligule pilose. Spikes long, erect, 5-7, digitate, I ( 88) and often with one or two spikes added below. Spikelets 3-5-flowered. Glumes obtase or shortly mucronate. Seeds oblong, 3-sided, rugose; pericarp loose. | ; Common in the plains of Northern India, and up to moderate eleva- tions on the Himalaya. It is a somewhat coarser grass than the preced- ing. It is eaten by horses and cattle, and in some districts is considered to be a good fodder grass, though Roxburgh says that cattle are not fond 1 of it; this remark may, however, apply chiefly to the Bengal form, which | the nature of the climate would render more rank and unpalatable. It is considered to be a good pasture grass in Australia. It is also much valued in United States, where it is known under the following names :— Yard grass, Crow’s foot, Crab grass, and Wire grass. Prof. Phares, quoted by Dr. Vasey in his “ Report on the Agricultural Grasses of the United States,” writes— “Tt grows in rich cultivated ground and produces an immense quantity of seeds. It is a very nutritious grass, and good for grazing, soiling and hay. The succulent lower part of the stems, covered with the sheaths of the leaves, renders it difficult to cure well, for which several days are required, It may be cut two or three times, and yields a large quantity of hay.” E. scindica, Duthie (Plate XXXVI.) Syn.—Dactyloctenium scin- dicum, Boiss. Vern.—Sinpu: Mandjiro; Punsas: Bhobra (Hissar), bobriya (S. Punjab); Raspurana: Gianthya, ganti ghds and jangli malicha (Ajmere), kharo makro (Jeypur). Perennial. Stems branching from a short bent and prostrate rhizome. Flowering stems elongate, erect, slender, almost naked. Leaves short, linear acuminate, flat, their edges near the base clothed with a few bul- bous-based hairs ; ligule truncate, ciliate. Spikes 3-5, very short, ovate and slightly curved; rachis mucronate. Lower glume oblong, acute; upper larger, ovate, and ending abruptly and obliquely in a short awn. Flowering glume oblong, lanceolate, obtuse, its keel scabrid and end- ing in a short point, lateral nerves prominent. Sandy ground in the plains of N.-W. India extending west to Aden. It is considered to be a good fodder grass. It bears a slight resemblance to makra, but is altogether a much more slender grass. E. verticillata, Roxb. (Plate LXX.) Syn.—Cynosurus verticillatus, Wight; Leptochloa verticillata, Kunth; Acrachne eleusinoides, Nees. Vern.—Punsas : Jharna (Hissar); Rasputana: Chhinke or kurt chinke (Ajmere), kangsit (Merwara). Erect, smooth, 1-4 feet. Leaves bifarious. Panicle erect, oblong, composed of many verticels of sessile spreading linear spikes like those of E. indica. Spikelets numerous, panicled, 8-12-flowered. Glumes jagged. Seeds oblong, rugose. (93%) It is considered to be a good fodder grass for cattle both in the Pun- jab and in Rajputadna. 60. LEPTOCHLOA, Beauv. Contains about 12 species, one of which occurs in Northern India. The flattish spikelets are sessile, or nearly so, and are attached to one side of the slender branches of a long panicle. Glumes without awns; inferior ones empty. L. chinensis, Vees, (Plate LX XI.) Syn.—L. tenerrima, R. and S.; Poa chinensis, Keen.; P. decipiens, R. Br.; Hragrostis decipiens, Steud. Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Chdnhel (Allahabad); Cent. Prov.: Chipa-chi- ma gadi (Chanda), jhira and phulkia (Seoni). Stems creeping below and rooting from the lower nodes, ascending, 2-3 feet, slender, glabrous. Leaves narrow, flat, tapering to a fine point. Panicle upwards of one foot long; branches many, simple, scattered or in clusters along the rachis. Spikelets sessile or nearly so, narrow, 4-6-flowered. Outer empty glumes rather unequal, acute; flowering glumes broader, acute. Common in the plains of Northern India and used more or less for fodder, though nothing definite appears to be known regarding its real value. TRIBE XI. FESTUCEZ. 61. PAPPOPHORUM, Schred. Out of 20 described species the four fol- lowing are recorded as occurring in the Punjab: P. Aucheri, Jaub. and Spach ; P. brachystachyum, Jaub. and Spach (Syn.—P. arabicum, Hochst); P. elegans, Nees. (Syn.—Calotheria elegans, Wight); and P. nanwm, Steud. They are perennial grasses with dense spike-like panicles, and the flowering glumes are furnished with numerous and usually plumose awns, I have received no information as to their value for fodder. 62. DIPLACHNE, Beauv. Species upwards of 14, distributed over the hotter parts of the world. Panicle branches long and slender. Spikelets sessile or nearly so, linear, scattered along the rachis, in two rows, but not sufficiently regular and unilateral for the genus to be placed amongst the Chloride, to which it is sometimes referred. D. fusea, Beauv. Syn.—Festuca fusca, Linn.; Leptochloa fusca, Kunth. Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Choti gandar and narri (Aligarh). Perennial. Stems prostrate below, and rooting from the lower nodes. Leaves long, linear, rough. Panicle narrow, with long erect spike-like branches. Sipkelets many, short; pedicels compressed, 5—-9-flowered. Outer glumes linear lanceolate, unequal, acute. Flowering glumes with two teeth a little below the mucronate apex, keeled. Plains of Northern India, on low-lying land where water is liable to lodge. I have observed it growing in great abundance in the more Ge depressed portions of the saline usar tracts in the Aligarh cei Buf-_ faloes are said to be very fond of this grass. 63. ARUNDO, Zinn. Contains 6 or 7 species, of which three occur in Northern India. They are tall handsome perennial grasses, with large branching panicles clothed with silky hairs. Flowering glumes pilose on the back. ‘They are of little or no value as fodder for cattle. A. Donax, Linn. Syn.—Donax arundinaceus, Beauv. Vern.—PUNJAB: Bdnsi _ (E. Punjab), swkna (Hoshiarpur). This species is commonly met with throughout the Mediterranean region, and is possibly an introduction in Northern India. ___ “A. madagascariensis, Kunth. Syn—Donax Thouarii, Beauv. Hilly parts ) of Northern India. oe A. mauritanica, Desf. Syn.—A. Pliniana, Turr. This species occurs at the base of the Himalaya in the Punjab, extending from the Mediterranean region. It “has narower leaves than A. Donaw, and the spikelets are much smaller. 64. PHRAGMITES, 7rin. There are 2 species, both of which occur in Northern India. This genus is closely allied to Arwndo, the chief difference being that in Phragmites the lowest floret of the spikelet is male. They are tall hand- some reeds with large branching panicles clothed with silky hairs on the axis. P. Roxburghii, Kunth. Syn.—Arundo Karka, Roxb. Vern.—TRANS-INDUS : Drumbi, dwarena, and gwarga (Stewart) ; KASHMIR: Wai (Stewart); PUNJAB: Nal and narvia (Stewart), nar (Chenab basin), nalw (Kavi basin), bag-narri (Jhelum basin), narsal (E. Punj.); SINDH: Sar; N.-W. PrRov.: Bansi (Dehra Dan) ; OuDH: Narkul, narkat, and narsal; CENT. PROov.: Paika gadi (Chanda) ; MARATHI: Deonal or deondl (Dymock); BENGAL: Nal (Roxb.), harka (Watt) ; TELING : Naga-sara maitantos and patoo-ederoo (Roxb.) ; HIND.: Wuda-nar (Watt). Stems erect, 8-12 feet, stout, covered with the leaf sheaths. Leaves flat, broad. Panicle erect or slightly drooping, 13 feet or more. Spikelets numerous, crowded, each with 3-5 distant florets. Flowering glume of lowest floret, which is usually male, tapering but not awned, the others smaller and more pointed. Var. angustifolia. Vern.—Nalli. Leaves narrower. This may possibly be - the plant described by Retzius under the name of Arwndo bifaria (Syn.—P. nepalen- sis, Nees). Common in the plains of Northern India near water. The stems are used for mak- ing chairs, baskets and the pipes of hukahs; and in Bengal mats are made of the split stems. Watson mentions that this grass has proved poisonous to cattle in Kumaun. In any case it is much too coarse a grass for fodder purposes. P. communis, Zrin.* Syn.—Arundo Phragmites, Linn, Vern.—PUNJAB: Dila (Jhelum basin). Of smaller stature than the preceding, with long creeping root-stock. Panicle somewhat one-sided, often of a purplish tinge. Spikelets at first very narrow, flat and spreading when in seed. The long silky hairs ppc from the rachis give the panicle a beautiful silvery aspect. Plains of North-West India and up to 14,000 feet on the Punjab Himalaya. — Eaten by c cattle in Ladak, where also sandals are made from the stems. It can only be used as fodder when quite young. P 65. ELYTROPHORUS, eauv. Contains a single species easily recog- nized by its inflorescence, which is composed of minute many-flowered spikelets crowd- - ed together into subglobose fascicles and forming an interrupted spike. Stamen 1. * See Plate F., Fig. 30, of present Volume. a eo nor awned, am ae) EB. articulatus, Beauv. (Plate LXXIL.)* Syn.—Lchinalysiwm strictum, Trin. ; Dactylis spicata, Willd. Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Balha (DNo4b); CENT. Prov.: Kolhati (Seoni), suria (Balaghat); SANTAL: Khet kapwri (Campbell). An erect glabrous annual 6 inches to 1 foot high. Leaves flat, often longer than the stem ; sheaths loose. Spikelets small, numerous, disposed in globular sessile clusters, and forming a cylindrical spike, which is often interrupted, and sometimes shortly branched from the base. Pale with two dorsal wings. Plains of Northern India, on damp clay soils, not common. 66. LAMARCKIA, Mench. Contains a single species, which is abundant in the Mediterranean region, and has been recorded from Peshawar by Stewart. L. aurea, Mench. Syn.—Cynosurus aureus, Linn.; Chryswrus cynosuroides, Pers. ; C. aureus, Spreng. : A small annual with handsome golden-coloured inflorescence. Spikelets in a dense unilateral panicle. 67. KCSLERIA, Pers. This genus contains about 12 species, the most of which are European. The spikelets are arranged in a dense cylindrical spike-like panicle. The flowering glumes are scarious and transparent. K. phleoides, Pers. Syn.—Festuca phleoides, Vill. Annual. Panicle densely cylindrical. Flowering glumes ending in two teeth, and with a short awn between the teeth. A common Medi- terranean grass, extending through Afghanistan to the Punjab. Dr. Aitchison in his “Flora of the Jhelum District” recommends this grass for cultivation as likely to be of great use during the cold weather for fodder. Another species, KX. cristata, Pers., is abundant at moderate elevations on the Himalaya, and_is a good fodder grass. It isa perennial species, The panicle is oe spikelike, often interrupted at the base. The flowering glumes are neither toothed | seo 68. ERAGROSTIS, Beauv. This genus contains about 100 des- cribed species, which are distributed over all parts of the world. In the plains of Upper India there are upwards of 15 species. The spikelets are numerous, somewhat compressed, many-flowered, and arranged in a panicle which is either spreading or compact, The outer,glumes are ~ shorter than the distichously imbricate flowering ones. The flowering glumes are awnless, 3-nerved, and prominently keeled. E. bifaria, W.and A.(Plate LXXIII.) Syn.—Poa bifaria, Kunth. Vern.—Rasputana: Punya-safed and chota bhdnkta (Ajmere), moz (Mount Abu); Tetine: Wooda-tallum (Roxb.). Stems straight, wiry, 1-2 feet high. Spikes narrow, compact, 4-8 inches long. Spikelets sessile, in two rows from one side of the rachis ; upper many-flowered, lower ones 4—-6-flowered. | * See also Plate F., Fig. 31, of present Volume. ( 62 ) Sandy and rocky ground in North-West India, common in Rajputana. At Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass, and is eaten by cattle on Mount Abu. : : E. Brownei, Nees. Syn.—Poa Brownei, Kunth.; P. polymorpha, R. Br.; Megastachya polymorpha, Beauv. Vern.—N.-W. Prov. : Le s © Jenkua (Rohilkhand); Buypetkuanp: Khari (Lalitpur); Cent, Prov.: Asata and chir (Seoni); Berar: Chott khidi. Stems usually 1 foot or more in height. Leaves narrow, flat or con- volute. Panicle variable, sometimes quite simple and dense, or with long distant and spreading branches. Spikelets shortly stalked, flat- tened, tapering almost to a point. Flowering glumes closely distichous, their lateral nerves prominent, nearly central on each side. asily re- cognized by its closely packed florets arranged in dark coloured and flattened spikelets. Plains of North-West India, and at low elevations on the Himalaya, usually near water. It extends to Australia, where it is looked upon as a good pasture grass, yielding an abundance of feed both winter and summer. E. ciliaris, Zink. Syn.—P. ciliaris, Linn.; P. ciliata, Roxb. Vern. —Ragspurana: Undar-punchho (Jeypur); SantaL: Tor chandbol (Camp- bell). | Annual. Stems procumbent below. Leaves narrowly linear acumin- ate; mouth of sheaths pilose. Panicle narrow, spike-like, cylindrical, or occasionally with the lower portions branched. Spikelets 5-8—flow- ered ; glumes acute; pales thickly clothed with long white stiff hairs. Plains of Northern India on sandy ground. It affords good grazing wherever it occurs in sufficient quantity. Var. brachystachya, (Plate XX XIX.) Vern.—Rasputana: Chaen (Merwiara). Syn.—E. arabica, Jaub. and Spach. A smaller plant with short dense cylindrical panicles. It is found on dry, sandy or stony ground in North-West India. E. ecynosuroides, R. and S. (Plate XL.) Syn.—Poa cynosuroides, Retz.; Briza bipinnata, Linn.; Uniola bipinnata, Linn. Vern.—Gen- ERAL: Dédb or kusa; Punsas: Dab or dib (Cent. and W. Punjab), dhab (Multan), drab (Kangra), drébh (Jhang); N.-W. Prov. and Ovupu: Kush (Pilibhit), dhab and kus (Bhira); BunpErkuanp: Dabvi (Banda); Cent. Prov. : Chir, dabhat and kusha (Balaghat); Maratai: Darbha (Dymock); Hinp1s: Davolia (Stewart); Benear: Koosha (Roxb.); Texine : Dubha, durbha, and durpa (Roxb.). | A perennial with a thick creeping rhizome. Stems 1-3 feet, thick, terete, leafy. Leaves many, long, chiefly from the base of the stem, (268" convolute above, hispid. Panicle spike-like or conical; branches hori- zontal, short and stiff. Spikelets in two rows from the under side of each branch, 6—12-flowered. Abundant in the plains of Northern India in all kinds of soil. In saline “usar soils it is usually found in the lower-lying portions where water collects. Cattle do not eat it as a rule, though it is liked by buffaloes when young. Its vigorous extensively creeping roots help to keep it fresh in dry weather. When other grasses fail it is often used as fodder mixed with gram and wheat. It produces a fairly strong fibre which is much used for making ropes. In the Karnal Settlement Report it is stated that the fibre is used for the ropes of the Persian wheel where they will last three months or more. This species is considered sacred amongst the Brahmins, It is often spread beneath the dead bodies of Hindus, the chief mourner wearing a ring of it on his finger. The rhi- zome is used as a diuretic. E. elegantula, Nees.(Plate LX XIV.) Syn.— Poa elegantula, Kunth ; P. elegans, Roxb. Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Kaluargi (Dodb), bhulwa (Cawnpore); Cent. Prov.: Asara (Balaghat), chota asara (Seoni). Annual, smooth. Stems 1-3 feet. Leaves few, small, quite smooth except the pilose mouths of the sheaths. Panicle oblong, nodding ; branches rather distant, linear, , eee Spikelets stalked, 8-12- _ ~ flowered, |, purplish. Not uncommon in the plains of N orth- West India, usually occurring on low-lying swampy ground. It is eaten by cattle either fresh or dry. At Balaghdt in the Central Provinces it is used for brooms. E. megastachya, Link. (Plate LXXV.) Syn.—E. major, Host; Poa Eragrostis, Sibth.; Megastachya Eragrostis, Beauv.; Briza Eragros- tis, Linn. Vern.—N.-W.. Prov. : Chiriya ke chaolai (Royle). Annual. Stems ascending. Leaves linear; mouth of sheaths pilose. Panicle ovate oblong; pedicels shorter than the spikelets. Spikelets large, solitary or in clusters, linear oblong, 15-20-flowered. Flowering glumes mucronate; lateral nerves prominent. Common all over the plains, and _up to 5,000 feet on the Himalaya. It is used more or less as fodder. __ et E. nutans, Nees. (Plate LXXVI.) Syn.—E. interrupta, Beauv.; Poa interrupta, Kon.; P. nutans, Retz. Vern.—Punsas: Kutti-pushli and sur (Multan), lumra (Lahore); N.-W. Prov.: ZLamcha (Etdwah), rasaurah (Allahabad), ghui (Pilibhit); Bunpenkuanp; Zél bali and asaunra (Banda), mumkéra (Lalitpur); Cent. Prov.: Ghodila (Nag- | pur), ghorila (Chanda), khajuria (Seoni); Tetine: Nakurmaral and — urenke (Roxb.). ( €1 5 Annual, glabrous. Stems erect, 1-3 feet high, smooth and polished. Leaves long and flat, Panicle erect, 6-12 inches, contracted ; lower branches often distant, two or more proceeding from the same level and _ giving the panicle a verticellate appearance. Spikelets small, quite smooth, often deeply tinged with red. ia Plains of Northern India in heavy retentive soils. It is not consid- ered a first class fodder grass, but cattle eat it readily when other better kinds have failed. E. pilosa, Beau». Syn.—L. verticellata, R. & 8.; Poa pilosa, Linn. ; P. verticellata, Cav. Vern.—Punsgas: Nika sdiwak (Multan), gadar ppunch (Hissar); N.-W. Prov. : Chiriya ka ddna (Allahabad) ; Rasrur- ana: Palichhi (Ajmere); Cent. Prov.: Kutakt. Annual. Stems slender. Leaves flat, linear acuminate; mouth of sheaths pilose. Panicle much branched; branches at first appressed, afterwards spreading, the lower ones in verticels. Pedicels usually longer than the spikelets. Spikelets minute, narrow, linear, loose, 5-11- flowered, often tinged with purple. Common in the plains of Northern India, usually in damp or swampy ground where it is relished by buffaloes. Mr. Symonds says that cattle eat it readily, and that it would make good hay. Mr. Lowrie tells me that at Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass, and that the seeds are eaten. In Australia it is said to be very productive as a pasture grass. E. plumosa, Link. (Plates XX XVIII. and LXXVII.) Syn.—Poa plumosa, Retz. Vern.—Punsas: Budhan and palinji (KE. Punjab); Raseutana: Chirt ka khet (Ajmere), chirt ko bajro (Jeypur); N.-W. Proy. and Oupu: Bara bhurbhura and bharbhurt (Dodb), bholont and — jhusa (Allahabad), galgala (Lucknow); BonpzLKHAND: Phularwa (Ban- da); Cent. Prov.: Bharbhurt bara and sipar gadi (Chanda), bharbuse (Balaghat), pithi (Nagpur), safed bhurki (Seoni). Annual. Stems erect or ascending. Leaves linear acuminate. Pan- icle oblong or somewhat pyramidal; branches slender, spreading, ciliate at the axils. Pedicels longer than the spikelets. Spikelets very nu- merous, small, lax, 5-7-flowered; axis ) articulate. Flowering glume obliquely truncate at the apex. ales ciliate with stiff spreading hairs. This species varies very much both as to stature and in the form of the panicle. Some specimens have their panicles so narrow and contracted as to be hardly distinguishable from £. ciliaris, Link. Common in the plains of Northern India especially on sandy soils, It is also abundant on saline usar soil in company with the usar grass (Sporobolus orientalis). Capt. Wingate tells me that at Allahabad it a 4 ¢ 465, grows extremely well along with dub, and makes a useful light hay for mixing with coarser hay,-and that both horses and cattle like it. At Ajmere it is also considered to be a good fodder grass. E. poxoides, Beauv. Syn.— EL. powfermis, Link; Poa EHragrostis, Linn. Annual. Stems erect, or bent at the base. Leaves linear, flat ; mouth of sheaths bearded. Panicle branches spreading; pedicels slender, shorter than the spikelets. zl wt t re Spikelets linear lanceolate, 8-20-flowered. Flowering glumes with prominent lateral nerves. Cosson and Durieu in their flora of Algeria have described this and Z. megastachya as varieties of BE. vulgaris, Coss. and Germ. Plains of Northern India and up to 8,000 feet on the Himalaya. E. tenella, Beauv. (Piate LXXVIIL) Syn.—EZ. tenuissima, Schrad.; Poa tenella, Linn. Vern.—N.-W. Prov.: Bharbhuri (Muttra); Cent. Prov. : Mondia jori (Seoni); Santau: Ichkoi (Campbell). Annual. Stems erect, 1-2 feet. Leaves smooth, narrow and finely pointed. _ Panicle usually very long and narrow; branches ascending or spreading, verticellate. Spikelets small, numerous, ovate, 5-7—flowered, often tinged bright red; axis articulate. Pales glabrous, not ciliate. Common in the plains of Northern India, especially in cultivated ground, along with sugar-cane, judr and arhar. It is eaten by cattle both fresh and dry, and the seeds are said to be nutritious. It is highly relished in Australia, E. tremula, Hochst. (Plate LX XIX.) Syn.—Poa multiflora, Roxb. ‘Vern.—Ponsas : Chankan buti (Multan), lukki (Lahore); Raspurana: Chirt ka khet (Ajmere), chirt ka chanwalié (Jeypur); N.-W. Prov.: Kalunji (Royle), bhamiri (Aligarh), bansa (Rohilkhand). Annual. Stems slender, 1-14 feet, bent below. Leaves few, mostly from the base, narrow and tapering to a fine point; mouth of sheaths bearded. Panicle pyramidal, bowing, much branched, lax; branches very slender, pilose at the axils. Pedicels equalling or longer than the spikelets. Spikelets many-flowered, somewhat flattened, long and nar- row, nodding. The very slender pedicels which support the long many- flowered spikelets give rise to the constant tremulous motion exhibited by this species when in flower. Common in light sandy soils in the plains, especially on poorly culti- vated ground. It is said to be a good fodder grass at Ajmere, but its foliage is too scanty to be of much value. Its grain is said to have been extensively utilized by the starving population in certain parts of the Punjab during a famine which took place about 60 years ago, and which is even now remembered as the “ lukkiwala sal.” E. uniloides, Nees. Syn—E. amabilis, W. and A.; Poa uniloides, Retz. Vern.—CENT. Prov.: Chanda mama gadi, chota loniya, and loniya (Chanda), lahoria, (Seoni) ; SANTAL: Jchkoch (Campbell) ; BENGAL: Konee (Roxb.), K \) Sa Bs we ~t (.66 ) -Annual. Stems 1-2 feet, branching from the base. Leaves small, broad at the base, and tapering to a fine point ; mouth of sheaths bearded. Panicle erect, oblong; ; branches filiform. Spikelets 16-20-flowered, Guat, closely imbricate, usually tinged ‘ with purple ; axis not articulate. Plains of Northern India, and up to 5,000 feet on the Himalaya, usually on wet ground. T have received no information regarding its value for fodder. E. viscosa, Trin. (Plate LX XX.) Syn.—Poa viscosa, Willd. Vern. —N.-W. Prov. : Bhurbhur (Doab), bhulni (Cawnpore); Cent. Prov. : Bhurbhusit (Nagpur), chikit (Balaghat), chippal (Seoni). - Annual, Stems numerous, 9-18 inches long. Leaves rather short, broad below and tapering to a fine point ; mouths of sheaths clothed with long white hairs. Panicle linear oblong, 2—4 inches long ; branches spread- ing, verticellate ; main rachis rather thick and stiff. Whole plant, espe- cially the inflorescence, covered with a sticky glutinous substance. Plains of Northern India on sandy soils, often accompanying E. plumosa, and probably of equal value for fodder purposes. E. abyssinica is a species which has lately been introduced into this country for experimental cultivation, It is a native of Abyssinia, where it is cultivated to a large extent at high elevations, and yields a small grain, of which the bread of the country is generally made. Its native name is Zef, Thaff or Thief. There are two kinds, one called ‘“ Thaf- Hagaiz,’ and the other ‘“ Thaf-Tseddia.” The former is sown in the cold season, and the latter at the commencement of the rainy season, 7.¢., in June or July. ‘ Thaf-Hagaiz” yields a white grain, and is considered greatly superior to the other variety, of which the grain is of a reddish colour. Full particulars of this plant, and the mode of cultivating it in Abyssinia, are given in the “ Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information,” No. 1 (Royal Gardens, Kew, 1887). Experimental sowings were last year made at Saharanpur from a sup-- ply of seed received from the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew. Both kinds were sown in ordinary garden soil in the month of March, and they yielded grain in May. After the fruiting stems were cut the plants renewed their growth and produced an excellent crop of fodder in the rainy season. Another sowing was made during the rains, which yielded an abundant crop of fodder, and this was made into hay which proved to be of superior quality, and was greedily eaten by the garden . bullocks in preference to chart. ‘The grain, useful as it appears to be in Abyssinia, is never likely to be much in request in this country, ex- cept possibly in those districts where mihri or kutki (Panicum miliare) is grown. As a fodder plant, however, it promises to be of great value, and the results of further experiments, now in course of being under- taken, will indicate to what extent it can be prcfitably grown. (ers) 69. ASLUROPUS, Trin. Contains 3 species, which extend from the Mediterranean region to Arabia and Central Asia, and one of them to the Punjab. They have creeping prostrate stems, and short rigid often prickly leaves. The spikelets, which are many-flowered, are ar- ranged in dense spike-like heads. The flowering glumes are broad at the apex and mucronate. The Punjab representative, Z. littoralis, Parl., var. repens, is characteristic of saline tracts in the Western parts of the Province, where it appears to take the place of dud, which it somewhat resembles in habit. 70. POA, Linn. Species about 80, distributed over the cooler regions of the world. On the Himalaya there are several species, including some which are well-known in Europe and America as valuable fodder plants. The spikelets are few-flowered and arranged in panicles, which are usually lax. The flowering glumes are 5— or more-nerved, mem- branous, keeled, and without awns. P. annua, Linn. Vern.—BuNDELKHAND : Chirua (Banda). A tufted annual, rarely exceeding one foot in height. Leaves flat and flaccid. Panicle loose and spreading. Spikelets shortly stalked, 3-6-flowered ; rachis glabrous. Plains of N.-W. India, and up to 8 or 9,000 feet on the Himalaya. It is a very nutritious grass, but the yield of foliage is too small to be of much account. 71. BROMUS, Linn. There are about 40 species, nearly all being restricted to temperate parts of the world. Several kinds are found on the Himalaya, The only species with which we are now concerned is a fodder grass introduced from Australia under the name of “ Prairie grass,” Bromus uniloides, H. B. & K. (Syn.—Ceratochloa uniloides, Beauy.). Miller describes it as one of the richest of all grasses, growing ex- tensively and spreading readily from seed, particularly in fertile and somewhat humid soils. It is not indigenous to Australia, having been introduced into that country from America, where, especially in the Southern States, it is much valued as a good winter grass, ‘ affording in the earlier months of spring a much-relished nutritious food as well as a good hay.......1¢ withstands drought fairly well, but escapes the worst period of summer drought by ripening early in the season” (Dr. G. Vasey, ‘“‘ Report on the Grasses of the South,” U. 8. A.) Other names for this grass are—‘“ Australian Oats,” “ Rescue grass,” and ‘¢ Schader’s Brome grass.” The results of some trials made with this grass at Saharanpur showed (6a) it to be less productive than oats, and not capable of replacing the latter at any other season of the year. TRIBE XII. HORDE. 72. LOLIUM, Zinn. Reducible to 2 or 3 species according to Ben- tham, and confined to temperate parts of the world. The position of the spikelets on the rachis distinguishes this genus from all others belong- _ ing to this tribe, the spikelets being so placed as to have their margins facing the rachis, L. temulentum, Zinn. (Darnel). Annual. Outer glume of the lateral spikelets usually as long as or longer than the whole spikelet. Flowering glumes oblong, usually obtuse, with an awn as long or longer than the glume itself. Plains and hills of the Punjab and N.-W. Provinces. The seeds of this grass have for a long time been supposed to possess poisonous properties, and numerous instances have been given of the ill-effects after eating flour or bread into which the grains of this grass have been purposely or accidentally introduced. Recent experi- ments however indicate that healthy darnel grain is perfectly innocuous, and that only grains which are ergotized or otherwise diseased are injurious. For further _ information see Bentley and Trimen’s “ Medicinal Plants,’’ p. 295. L, perenne, Linn. (Perennial Rye-grass). A well-known and most important fodder grass, It grows wild on the Himalayan ranges up to 11,000 feet. It is said to stand the dry heat of the Australian summer very well, and would probably be found to thrive as a cold weather fodder crop in N.-W. India. In Europe it is largely grown along with clover. 73. TRITICUM, Linn. There are about 10 species, which are con- fined to Western Asia and the Mediterranean region. Thespikelets are few-flowered, somewhat compressed, and are placed on the rachis so as to have the margins of the glumes facing the rachis, The flowering glumes are oblong or ventricose, rounded on the back or keeled above, 5-9- nerved, the Jateral ones short and not joining towards the apex, or pro- duced into a distinct awn, as in bearded wheat. T. sativum, Lamk. (Wheat). Vern.—GeneraL: Gehun or gohun ; Lapax: Tokar (white), tomar (red), and tro (Stewart); N. Tiser: Dro (Stewart); Punsaz Himanaya: Nis (Stewart), zud (Kunawar and Bas- sahir); Ponsas Puains: Kanak (Stewart), khasil and khawid (cut as fodder), Beneat: Gom(Roxb.), gau (Watt). The cultivation of this important plant is of pre-historic antiquity, and wheat is now nowhere known to occur in a wild state, DeCandolle believes that it originated somewhere in the Euphrates region, whilst other authors give reasons in favour of its developement from a species of mY (69 ) Egylops, which is now classed as a section of Z’riticum. Many varieties _ __ are in cultivation both in the plains and on the Himalaya. ‘The most obvious variations are those which affect the consistency of the grain (hard or soft), or its colour (white or red); also the presence or absence of awns on the flowering glumes (bearded or beardless). On the Hima- laya wheat is grown at various elevations, and in Tibet it has been ob- served as high as 16,000 feet above the sea. A variety called “oi” is cultivated in Byans(N. E. Kumaun), from which a strong spirit is manufactured. For fodder purposes wheat is used both green and dry ; the latter composed of the chaff anda chopped-up straw, and commonly known as bhusa, is a valuable and largely used form of fodder in all wheat - growing districts. For further information see Church’s “ Food Grains of India”; ‘ Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh,” Part I.; Bentley and Trimen’s “ Medicinal Plants”; Royle’s “ Illustrations of Himalayan Plants”; DeCandolle’s ‘ Origin of Cultivated Plants.” 74. OROPETIUM, Trin. Contains a single diminutive species confined to _ India. The spikes are solitary, cylindrical, and with the spikelets completely im- mersed in the axis as in Rottdellia and Ophiurus, but the outer persistent glumes compel its retention amongst the Hordee. O. Thomzum, Trin. Syn.—Rottbellia Thomea, Linn. Open ground in the plains of the Punjab, also in Rajputana and in the ravine country about Agra and Etawah. It is too small to be considered of much account for fodder purposes. 75. HORDEUM, Linn. Species about 12, confined to temperate regions. The spikelets are in threes at each node, and 1-flowered. The empty glumes are subulate and rigid, often resembling an involucre. H. vulgare, Linn.* (Barley), Vern.—Generau: Jau; Lapax: Jhotak, spiroka, shruk, soa, yangma, and tro (Stewart); Kasuuir: Jawa, nai, and thazatt (Stewart); Punsas: Ne (Stewart), chak (Upper Sutlej basin), chung (Upper Chenab basin) ; Mararni: Jav and yava (Dymock); Beneat: Jab (Watt), guba (Roxb.). Annual. Stems many, 2-3 feet, smooth. Leaves few, the upper one | close to the spike; sheaths smooth, striate; ligule very short; blade rounded at the base, and tapering gradually to the apex, glaucous green. Spikes oblong, compressed, 2-24 inches long (without the awns.) Spike- lets sessile, arranged in threes on either side of a flattened rachis, the lateral ones occasionally barren or rudimentary (in 2-rowed barley). Outer glumes small, setiform. Flowering glumes firm, 5-ribbed, rounded on the back, and ending in a long stiff awn rough with forward prickles. Grain usually adhering to the pale. Barley is supposed by DeCandolle to have originated in Western * See Plate F, Fig. 32, of present Volume. Ce TOT temperate Asia, It is extensively cultivated in _ Northern India, either alone, or mixed with wheat, or with gram, mustard and linseed. There are two important varieties, viz., the 2-rowed (H. distichon), and the 6- rowed (H. hexastichon), the latter being the one more usually grown in this country. Barley succeeds better as a hill crop than wheat, and is cul- tivated at higher elevations. A curious beardless variety (H. egiceras, Royle) is found in Tibet; another, called rasuli barley (H. gymno- distichon) differs from the ordinary in having the grains free of the pales; and Siberian barley (H. celeste). Vern.—Uyun or ua jau has been recorded from Pangi (Stewart), Lahoul (Moorcroft), and Kumaun (Watson). For further information see works referred to under wheat. TRIBE XIII. BAMBUSEZ. 76. BAMBUSA, Schreb. Species about 24, distributed over trop- ical and subtropical Asia, one occurring in America. B. arundinacea, Retz. Syn.—B. orientalis, Nees; Arundo Bambos, Linn.; Bambos arundinacea, Pers. Vern.—Punsas: Magar bans and nal bans; N.-W. and Cent. Inpia: Bans, and kattang bans ; MaratHi : Mandga2 (Dymock) ; Texting: Vedroo and mulkas (Roxb.). Perennial. Stems woody, 30-50 feet high, forming compact clumps, green; branches spreading, alternate, bifarious, spinescent; cavity of joints small; spines strong, curved, in pairs at the base of the branches, or in threes, the central one being the longest. Leaves small, shortly stalked, bifarious, lanceolate, thin ; sheaths persistent, coriaceous, downy, 1-2 inches long. Spikelets mostly sessile, in dense 4-whorled clusters, glabrous and shining. Empty glumes 2-4. Flowering glumes 4-10, the upper ones sterile. Edges of pale fimbriate. Lodicules 3. Sta-. mens 6. PDericarp thin, adnate to the seed. Common in Central and Southern India, and extensively cultivated in parts of North-West India and Bengal. The leaves and twigs are a favourite fodder of elephants. The various purposes to which this plant is put, too numerous to be here mentioned, are given in Dr. Watt’s “ Dictionary of the Economic Products of India,” Vol. I., p. 390. See also Brandis’ “ Forest Flora,” Roxburgh’s “ Flora Indica,” IT., 191, and Dymock’s ‘‘ Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India,” p. 856. Roxburgh, in describing the inflorescence of this species, says— ‘‘ When in flower the tree is generally destitute of leaves, and as the extremity of every ramification is covered with flowers, the whole tree seems one entire, immense panicle, composed of innumerable, somewhat verticelled spikes, each verticel is composed of several, distichous, oblong, pointed, sessile, rigid spikelets, such as those of Hleusine, &c.” The (qe) flowering of this species takes place periodically about every 30 years, when almost every individual specimen blossoms and dies. The grain produced on these occasions is abundant, and of great value as an article of food. It is supposed on more than one occasion during the present century to have prevented a famine. The food value of the grain, accord- ing to Prof. Church, is high, though deficient in oil and mineral matter. 77. DENDROCALAMUS, Wees. There are 9 species, inhabiting India, the Malay Archipelago, and China. In habit they resemble Bam- busa, but there are no lodicules, and the pericarp of the fruit (caryopsis) is free from the seed. D. strictus, Nees. (Male bamboo). Syn.—Bambusa stricta, Roxb. Vern.—GENERAL : Bans, badnsi and kussub (Royle), bans kabban (Watt); SantaL: Buru mat (Campbell); Beneat: Kopar (Watt.); Trine: Sadanapa-vedroo (Roxb.). Usually of smaller stature than that of Bambusa arundinacea, stems nearly or quite solid, lower part often variously bent, spreading above and frequently curved downwards. Leaves deciduous, arising from fas- ciculate branches enclosed in shining cartilaginous persistent sheaths, distichous, rough, and hairy on the lower or on both sides. Flowers produced annually on certain portions of the tree, the other stems re- maining leafy. Spikelets spinescent, hairy, collected into dense globose heads on long interrupted spikes. Common in Northern India, and often gregarious. The leaves be- come yellow and fall during winter, except in moist places where the tree remains evergreen. The young foliage appears again in the hot weather. The stems die away after flowering. This bamboo is much valued on account of its strong elastic stems, which are used for a variety of purposes. The foliage affords abundant fodder for elephants. NOTE ON SELECT FODDER GRASSES. As a guide to those who may wish to know which are the best kinds of fodder grasses to cultivate, or to encourage the growth of, in particu- lar soils and localities, I have selected from the foregoing list a certain number of the more desirable kinds, and have arranged them into groups under the following headings—(1), Those grasses which are generally considered to be of first class excellence for fodder. (2), Fodder grasses which thrive in or near water. (3), Grasses which thrive on black soil ; (4), Grasses which are more or less characteristic of saline soils. 1. First class Fodder Grasses:—Panicum colonum, Zinn. (rich ground). PP. flavidum, Retz. (rich ground). P. frumentaceum, Roxb. (cult. ground). P. helopus, 7rin. (rich ground). P. jumentorum, Pers. (cult. ground). P. miliaceum, Zinn. (cult. ground). P. miliare, Lamk. (light culturable ground). P. prostratum, Zamk. (rich ground). P. sanguinale, Zinn. (rich ground). Cenchrus catharticus, Del. (sandy soil). C. montanus, Nees. (sandy soil). Pennisetum cenchroides, Rich. (light culturable soil). Euchlena luxurians, Ascheron (rich moist soil). Zea Mays, Linn. (cult. ground). LElionurus hirsutus, Munro (sandy soil), Ischemum laxum, R. Br. (sandy soil). Heteropogon contortus, R. and S. (hardly to be recommended for cultivation, but wherever it exists in abundance it will be found to be a very serviceable fodder grass). Andropogon annulatus, Forsk. (almost any kind of soil). A. foveolatus, Del. (stony and sandy ground), A. Ischemum, Linn. (light soil). A. laniger, Desf. (sandy soil).