120 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



in febrile cases, and also in flatulent affections. Tbe oil is used 

 internally for allaying vomiting and gastric irritability in case of 

 cbolera. It is also used externally in rheumatism. 



Tbe properties and uses of the last-mentioned species, A . Nardus, 

 are similar to those of Andropogon Citratus. 



3rd. Andropogon laniger, Desf. — (See Fodder Grasses of the Plains 

 of North- Western India, by Duthie, plate 23.) This grass, known 

 as woolly Andropogon, grows extensively in the northern coast of 

 Africa, from Egypt to Algiers. It is also found in Arabia, and in the 

 north of India. According to Mr. Duthie, it is common on cultivated 

 land in Sind, the Punjab, Ra jputana, and parts of the N.-W. Provinces, 

 and it is also recorded from Thibet at an elevation of 1 1,000 feet. I 

 had only one specimen (now lost) said to be from the Deccan. It is 

 not ascertained whether this grass is distilled for the production of 

 its oil, but its roots are sometimes used like kashas in the manufac- 

 ture of tatties. 



4th. Andropogon versicolor, Nees. — This grass exists in the more 

 elevated parts of the Central Provinces of Ceylon. Mr. Thwaites 

 says : — "The inflorescence of this species has, when crushed between 

 the fingers, a rather agreeable aromatic odour. The essential oil 

 appears to be situated principally at the base of the spikelets.' 1 



5th. Andropogon Schoenanthus, Linn. ; A. Martini, Roxb. ; A. 

 Pachnodes, Trin. (Sp. Graminearum. Vol, III., plate 327) ; A. 

 Nardoides,Nees; A. Calamus Aromaticus, Royle (Illst. of Him. 

 Bot., plate 97), a variety with dense inflorescence. 



This grass, named Ginger grass by Europeans, is known to natives 

 as Rosa, Rosha, Rose, etc. etc. It is of all the Andropugons the 

 best known.* It appears from the Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. 12, that 

 in Khandeish people distinguish two varieties, one with bluish, and 

 the other with white inflorescence. This is what the Gazetteer says : — 

 " Another important branch of distilling is the preparing of oil from 

 the forest grass known as Rosha {Andropogon Schamanthus), which 

 is of two kinds, one with bluish and the other with white flowers. 

 The oil produced from the first is of a green colour, and is called 

 Sophia, that from the other is white, and is called Motia. The Motia 

 oil fetches a higher price than the Sophia. Both grasses grow 



*In their work above alluded to, Trimen and Bentley say :— "There is still great 

 confusion amongst the species of Andropogon affording grass oil." As a proof we 

 may point to the many names which the Rosha grass, as truly stated by them the 

 best known and widely distributed, hav received from botanists. 



