196 HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.  Bambusa. 
tal cord, otherwise they say the ceremony cannot be per- 
formed, 
4. B. Balcooa. R. ; ; 
Arboreous, unarmed, Leaves sublanceolate ; with a 
cordate base, inflorescence sub-radical, spikelets from four 
to five-flowered, all hermaphrodite. 
Beng. Balkoo-bans. 
It is a native of Bengal, and on account of its size, 
and strength, is reckoned by the workers in bamboo work 
the very best sort for building the houses of the na- — 
tives, scaffolding, &c. works requiring both size and _ 
strength. Flowering time the rainy season, however it — 
rarely arrives at this state, for I have but once met 
with it in blossom. 
Stems similar to the other species, but stouter, and of- — 
ten taller. Ramifications also the same. Leaves bifarious, 
subsessile on their sheathing bases, lanceolate, with the 
base cordate ; margins slightly hispid; smooth, deep green 
on both sides; from one to two inches broad, and from four — 
to twelve long. Sheaths longer than the joints ; exposed 
parts villous, with a bearded stipulary mouth, (ligula,) — 
rising above the insertion of the leaves. Inflorescence in 
radical, verticelled spikes ; verticels large, sub-globular, — 
composed of numerous, sessile spikelets, of from four to 
_ six hermaphrodite flowers. Calyx calycled. Corol two- 
valved. Exterior smooth, ovate. Inner with the exterior 
margins ciliate. Nectary of three, oval, ciliate leaflets. — 
Stamina six. Style woolly. Stigmas three, and also woolly. 
To make this species more serviceable, long immersion 
in water is required to render them firmer, and proof _ 
against the attacks of the Bostrichi, and their larva. nee 
‘There are two varieties of this most useful species. The 
~ large the natives call Dhooli-balkoo, and the smaller Bal- 
koo-bans, which has a smaller cavity, and though notso 
large a bamboo, is on that account very strong. 
