186 JOWITT : NOTES ON DR. OTTO STAPP'S 



Sir J. D. Hooker's description of A.nardus, L., covers all the 

 v^arieties of raana grass growing wild on the patanas in this 

 neighbourliood, and the only point I can take exception to is 

 Glume 1 " obscurely veined." 



In many varieties Glume 1 is often strongly veined, veins in 

 the flexures well defined, and the intermediate veins numbering 

 3-5; this venation occurs in varieties with light coloured 

 inflorescences. 



From the context and the footnote on page 243, this descrip- 

 tion includes the cultivated form, but in my opinion it does not 

 embrace Maha-pangiri. 



Regarding C. confertiflorus, Stapf, Dr. Stapf refers one to 

 Steud. Syn. PI. Glum, vol. I. (1885), page 384, Hook, f., Fl. 

 Br. Ind., vol. VII., p. 206 (under ^. nardus, var. nilagiricus). 



I have consulted this latter authority, and the description 

 tallies with many varieties of wild mana. Sir J. D. Hooker 

 states that his description of ^. iiardus, L. , is the var. nilagiricus 

 of Hackel, the wild mana of the patanas, whereas Dr. Stapf 

 refers one to this description as being one of G. nardus, 

 Rendle, and states " only known in cultivation." 



Dr. Stapf in his key gives — 



All the spikelets awnless . . C. nardus. 

 Sessile spikelets awned . . G. confertiflorus. 



Sir J. D. Hooker says, IV " awned or not between 



the acute lobes," and this is the case in varieties of wild 

 mana examined by me, and in the same inflorescence I have 

 found Gl. IV. of sessile spikelet, long-awned, short-awned, and 

 awnless. 



Dr. Stapf refers to " a suite of excellent specimens of the 

 cultivated awnless G. nardus from Mr. Jowitt's estate at 

 Bandarawela, and sent with them at the same time and from 

 the same locality, and numbered concurrently with the first, is 

 another set which is undoubtedly ' Andropogon nardus, var. 

 nilagiricus,^ whether they grew wild on the estate or were 

 cultivated is not stated." 



These specimens were originally sent to Mr. C. A. Barber, 

 Madras. In covering letter I wrote, " the specimens were all 

 collected on Craig estate, Bandarawela, elevation 4,800 ft. to 

 5,000 ft., on November 5, 1904." 



