Saccharum. trtandria digynia. 235 



whiteness, from the quantity of wool that surrounds the inser- 

 tion of the flowers. Floivers pedicelled, generally simple. 

 Calyx two valved, with here and there a long white hair. 

 Corol two-valved, minute. Stamens two. 



Obs. Cattle are not fond of it, particularly when old. It is 

 used in the marriage ceremonies of the Telingas. In Bengal 

 it is much used for thatch. 



2. S. spontaneum. Linn, sp.pl. ed. Willd. i. 321. 



Culms from five to fifteen feet high. Leaves involute when 

 dry. Panicle linear, spreading, verticelled ; ramification sim- 

 ple ; calyx ciliate. Corol one-valved. 



Sans. Kasha. 



Hind. Kagara. 



Teling. Relloo-gaddy. 



Grows on the banks of rivers, in hedges, and on moist, un- 

 cultivated land ; in a good soil, it is frequently from ten to 

 fifteen feet high, in a poorer soil, from five to ten. 



Root perennial, creeping very deep in the ground. Culms 

 annual, erect, leafy, round, lower parts perennial, and as thick 

 as the finger, annual shoots about as thick as a common quill, 

 solid, height various as above observed. Leaves sheathing, 

 remarkably long and narrow, but firm; margins hispid ; a 

 transverse section appears crescent ; sheaths with their mouths 

 woolly. Panicles terminal, spreading, erect, oblong, from one 

 to two feet long, composed of verticelled, filiform, simple, 

 (except the lower verticil or two,) spiked racemes ; spiked, 

 because half the flowers are sessile, and half pedicelled. The 

 immense quantity of long, bright, silver-coloured wool, which 

 surrounds the base of the flowers gives this species a most 

 conspicuous, gaudy appearance. Floivers paired, one-pedi- 

 celled, the other sessile. Calyx two-leaved ; margins ciliate, 

 acute, surrrounded with many soft, very long, silver-coloured 

 hairs. Corol one-valved, ciliate, acute, membranaceous. 

 Stigma feathery, purple. 



Obs. 1 have not seen the ripe seed. It is so very coarse 



