ODORIFEROUS GRASSES OF INDIA. 67 



1st — A. commutatus, Steud, Synop. Plant. Glum., Vol. I., 387, 

 growing in Sind and Abyssinia. 



2nd— A. Gidarba, Hamil., Steud., Syn. PI. Glum., Vol. I., 387, 

 t. hiikI in Monghyr. Both these are noted for tcrcbenthine acrid 

 odour and taste. 



A. Ilooleri, Munro, M. S. Hack. Androjwijonca' 614, allied to A. 

 conrimctatus, and supposed to grow in Bhutan. 



A. liridm, Thur., Enum. PL Zeylan., 367, found in Ootacamund 

 and Ceylon. Both these grasses are sweet-scented, but the odour is 

 slight and weak. 



A. .sqitiirrosKs, Linn, fd., Suppl. 433; A. muHcatus, Rets, Oh., 

 Vol. III., 43. It grows all over India, especially in humid warm 

 places, In this Presidency it is cultivated, and is also found wild in 

 all provinces. The plant is called bala and vedem, and its fragrant 

 roots, named Kashas, are well known throughout India, and used for 

 making tatties, fans, &c , and formerly for thatching bungalows in 

 the Deccan. The flowering branches of this as well as of other 

 beautiful grasses are sold in the bazaar. 



A. PryfH.sas, Willd., Sjk, Vol. IV., 922 ; Roxb., FL Inch, Vol. I., 

 2o9. This grass has an extensive range, being found all over India, 

 Afghanistan, Ceylon, Mauritius, Timor, Java,. Africa, and even in 

 some parts of Italy. It is very common in Poona, at the end of the 

 rains, when it is very conspicuous by its beautiful purple panicle, 

 consisting of 4 to 6, in some cases, even 10 spikes, congested at the 

 top of the long peduncle. Its vernacular name is Payen. Oania- 

 innrrvl, Palican, Panval, Pahca. These names are also given to 

 species of A. arymlqtus. Forstr.,and^l. intermedins, R. Br., the culms 

 of which, like those of pertnsns, are terminated by a crown of purple- 

 coloured spikes. The spikelets of this species have, when crushed 

 between the fingers, an agreeable aromatic odour, as may be ascer- 

 tained by examining the specimens exhibited here. None of the 

 agrostologists who have described this plant have, so far as I am aware, 

 alluded to this property. Mr. Duthie, having had his atten- 

 tion drawn to it, says: — " The grass enclosed in yours of the 16th 

 ( (rtober, 1890, is certainly Aiiaropogoh pertust^. I was not aware 

 of its being scented." The leaves are inodorous. The cattle do 

 not seem to relish the plant. 



