Gramine@.] - THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. “415 
in making ropes, and as Papyrus of Egypt was by the ancients. The species of Erio- 
phorum, called cotton-grass in England, from having their seeds clothed at the base 
with a silky or cotton-like substance, of which paper, and wicks of candles, have been 
made, and pillows stuffed, has a species, E. comosum, Wall., cannabinum, nob., 
bhabhur of the natives, of which the leaves, previous to the plant flowering, are in 
the Himalayas extensively employed for rope-making. Cyperus inundatus, probably 
with other species, helps much to bind and protect the banks of the Ganges from the 
rapidity of the streams and the force of the tides; as in Holland Carex arenaria is 
carefully planted on the dikes, where’ its far-extending roots, by mutually interlacing 
with each other, fix the sand, and give strength to the embankment. 
196. GRAMINEZ. 
Galeiaa “ect a the most natural of orders, are the most atanedioehy diffused, and 
at the same time the most useful of vegetables; a few species affording the corn which 
forms a great portion of the daily sustenance of millions of human beings ; while others 
afford pasture for cattle, which are themselves to form the remainder of the food of 
many, especially of northern nations. They are: extremely numerous, nearly two 
thousand species being at present known, and thus forming nearly one-twentieth of the 
plants described in systematic works ; but if the number of individuals be considered, 
the proportion is immensely greater. They are found in all parts of the world, both 
on land and in water, in dry and in moist situations, in hot and cold, tropical and 
temperate climates, though different tribes, genera and species, inhabit these several 
situations. Those in tropical situations, such as Bamboo and Saccharum, with broad 
foliage, often attain a great height, the former often fifty or sixty feet, and the latter 
tall enough to conceal herds of elephants, while the verdant turf of northern regions is 
formed of short and compact grassy tufts. As they are abundant and large in foliage in 
tropical situations, so do the species which extend along the foot of the Himalayas 
form a grass jungle sufficiently high to conceal the elephant and rhinoceros, while in 
ascending, we find many of the same genera and species which are met with in proceed- 
ing from the equator to the poles. These have all been examined and named by Professor 
Nees von Esenbeck, to whom I am indebted for MS. descriptions of the new genera 
and species, © 
The Grasses found in the plains of India, some of which are confined to the Peninsula, 
but many of which are as common in the northern as in the southern plains, belong to 
genera, of some of which, a few species ascend the mountains, and are found there at 
considerable elevations in the rainy season of the year, The mass of the species found 
in the plains belong to the genera Oryza, Hygroryza, of the tribe Oryzee ; Coix, and 
in northern parts Phalaris, of the tribe Phalaridee ; Paspalum, numerous species of 
Panicum, of Echinochloa, Setaria, Pennisetum, Penicillaria, Cenchrus, Trachyozus, and 
Holboellia (Wall. Hook. Misc. 11. t. 76), of the tribe Panicee ; Aristida, and Chaetaria, 
of Stipacee ; Arundo, and Amphidonax, of Arundinacee ; Vilfa, (Sporobolus, R. Br.) and 
Polypogon, 
