JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1920. 49 



49506 to 49521— Continued. 



49519. IscHAEMUM SULCATUM Hack. Poacese. Grass. 



A grass, native to India, with slender stems, 8 to 18 inches long, and 

 with leaves 2 to 10 inches long. It is very nutritions and is largely 

 used as fodder wherever it occurs in abundance. It grows along the 

 edges of cultivated land in the black soil of central India, where it is 

 known as Pownia or Pona. (Adapted from Watt, Dictionarii of the 

 Economic Products of India, vol. 7, p. 137.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41912. 



49520. ISEiLEMA ANTHEPiioROiDES Hack. Poaceip. Grass, 

 A stout, tufted grass, less than 3 feet high, with erect or ascending 



stems, linear leaves, and crowded leafy panicles. Native to the southern 

 Dekkan Peninsula. (Adapted from Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 

 1\ p. 219.) 



An annual grass, one of the most valuable forest fodder grasses in the 

 Indian peninsula. (Adapted from the Agricultural Journal of India, vol. 

 12. Special Indian Scientific Number, p. 135.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41913. 



49521. Pennisetum ciliare (L. i Link. Poace^e. Grass. 

 (P. cenchroides Ricli.) 



Dhaman. A perennial, spreading, fodder grass, adapted to desert 

 regions, and native to tropical Africa and subtropical southwestern Asia. 

 It is well adapted for silage, green fodder, and hay, and is so nutritious 

 as to have led to the native saying: "What ghi (or ghee, i. e., claritied 

 butter) is to man, that the dhaman is to a horse." (Adapted from 

 2Iueller, Select Extra-Tropical Plants, p. 364.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41915. 



49522 to 49524. Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf. Poacese. 



Fundi. 



From Mano, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Seed presented by D. W. Scotland, 



Director of Agriculture, Njala, Mano, Sierra Leone, through Prof. C. V. 



Piper. Numbered March 26, 1920. 



A cereal native to tropical Africa and cultivated in West Africa, where it 



was first observed in 1798. It closely resembles Digitaria longiflora, which is 



probably the wild ancestral form. The grain has a very good flavor, and it is 



believed that if it were exported to Europe it might prove a valuable addition 



to the light farinaceous articles of food used by the delicate or convalescent. 



The plant is said not to require manuring and to thrive well in light soils and 



even in rocky situations. It is grown in Nigeria at an elevation of 4,000 feet. 



(Adapted from A'e^r Bulletin of Miscclloneovs Information, No 8, p. 3S3, 1915.) 



49522. Light type. 49524. Medium type. 



49523. Heavy type. 



49525 and 49526. 



From Buitenzorg, Java. Tubers presented by the director of the Botanic 

 Gardens. Received February 7, 1920. 



49525. CoLOCASiA esculenta (L.) Schott. Araceaj, Tare. 



" Talhis belang, or tallus soerat. This is a yellow-fleshed taro. The 

 meaning of the vernacular names is said by Dr. P, J. S. Cramer to be 

 'striped taro.'" (R. A. Young.) 



