244 triandria digynia. Saccharum. 



numerous expanding-, sub-verticelled, compound, woolly 

 branches, when in blossom much expanded, afterwards they 

 become erect, and pressed in on the common rachis, forming 

 a dense cylindrical panicle, and I have repeatedly observed 

 this variation in the form of the panicle at different periods, 

 to run through the whole genus. Flowers in parts, one ses- 

 sile, the other pedicelled. Calyx purple, woolly. Corol of 

 the sessile flower three, of the pedicelled two-valved, all are 

 exceedingly delicate, and the third valve of the sessile flower 

 is retuse. 



Obs. The seeds or culms are long-, strong and straight, and 

 employed by the natives for skreens, and various other eco- 

 nomical purposes. 



8. S. Sara. R. 



Erect, from eight to twelve feet high. Leaves flat with, 

 prickly margins. Panicles dense, sub-verticelled ; ramifica- 

 tions decompound. Floivers paired, one of the pair sessile. 

 Corol three- valved. 



Sans. Goondra, Tejwnwka, Sh?/ra. 



Bene/. SIimi*. 



Sara. Asiat. Res. iv. 247. 



Found in the vicinity of Calcutta, but rather rare, whereas 

 S. spontanenm (which Sir William Jones mistook for Sara) 

 is very common every where. It is readily distinguished by 

 being- a stronger reed, the leaves much larger, with very his- 

 pid margins, the ramifications of the panicle decompound, 

 and a corol of three valves. Culms perennial, erect, from 

 six to sixteen feet high, often near the base as thick as the 

 little finger, smooth, remarkably strong. Leaves, the lower 

 ones from four to eight feet long, and narrow ; the superior ones 

 shorter, broader, tapering from the base to a most fine point, 

 strong, and rigid ; concave above, margins hispid. Sheaths 

 from twelve to eighteen inches long, with a tuft of hair above 

 their mouths on the inside. Panicle dense, when in flower 

 open, when in seed condensed and of a lanceolate shape, from 



