400 Sir R. Schomburgk on some Grasses and Sedges 



Demerara, and likewise in cultivated fields among the sugar- 

 canes. Cattle are fond of it, and it is generally considered a good 

 fodder-grass. Sellow found it in Brazil, and Kunth states that it 

 occurs likewise in Mexico, New Holland and Senegal. 



Panicum (Digitaria) horizontal, Meyer ; N. ab E. in /. c. ii. 99 ; 



Meyer, /. c. 54 ; Jacquin, Observationes Botanicse, iii. 18. t. 70. 

 Digitaria horizontalis, Willd. Enum. 92. 



Fine White-seed grass. 



This is a very slender and graceful annual grass which is to 

 be met with in several of the West India islands as well as on 

 the continent of South America. Von Martius found it in the 

 provinces of Bahia and Park, and Raddi in Rio Janeiro. If we 

 except the latter locality, it does not appear to extend beyond tro- 

 pical America. The jockeys in Demerara consider this the best 

 fodder for race-horses. 



Panicum (Digitaria) fimbriatum, Presl in Rel. Hsenk. i. 298 ; Kunth, 



I.e. i. 81. 

 Digitaria fimbriata, Link. 



Lony-grass. 



A creeping annual grass which is considered good fodder in 

 Demerara. It has been found in Brazil, Mexico and California. 

 The Demerara species are from Mon Repos ; it is not very abun- 

 dant, and seldom to be found in extensive tufts. 



Panicum affine, N. ab E. in /. c. ii. 113. 



P.fluitans, Meyer, I. c. 51 (excl. syn., teste N. ab E.). 



P. paspaloides, Kunth, /. c. i. 77 ; Lam. 111. Gen. i. 176. 



Pipe-grass ; Vine-grass. 



The culms of this grass are hollow and of the size of the tube 

 of a clay tobacco-pipe, from which circumstance it has received 

 its vernacular name of Pipe-grass. It is found growing in 

 trenches where the culms are floating on the water, for which it 

 is particularly qualified in consequence of its hollow culms. Small 

 islands formed of this grass are sometimes seen to come floating 

 down the Demerara river, and arriving at its mouth they are 

 driven backwards and forwards by the tides, and collect some- 

 times during the rainy season in large numbers about the an- 

 chorage before Georgetown. It has frequently occurred that large 

 snakes of the Boa kind, and even alligators, have come down the 

 river upon these floating islands. I have observed whole patches 

 of this grass along the banks of the rivers in the interior, the 

 stems matted together and interlaced with Ponthederia and other 

 water plants. 



