348 TRIANDRIA DTGVNIA. ArWldo. 



Is a native of similar places with the last described. 



Culms erect, ramous, from eight to twelve feet high, and 

 as thick as the last, round, smooth, entirely covered with 

 the sheaths of the leaves. Leaves approximate, sword-shap- 

 ed, smooth, from twelve to twenty-four inches long, and one 

 or one and a half broad ; mouths of the sheaths bearded. Pa- 

 nicle bowing with the wind, but if not disturbed erect, oblong, 

 composed of many filiform, erect, (in luxuriant plants droop- 

 ing,) sub-verticelled, ramous branches. liachis of the 

 branches angular and hispid. Florets alternate, on a longer 

 common woolly pedicel than in A. bifaria, within the calyx. 

 Calyx from three to five-flowered ; glumes unequal, the larg- 

 est shorter than the exterior valve of the corol. Corol, ex- 

 terior valve three-nerved, tapering- into long fine subulate 

 points, inner valve scarcely half so long. Stamens often only 

 two, and the pistil is frequently wanting. 



Obs. It does not agree with Retzius's description of A. 

 Karka in the number of flowers in the calyx. Pipes are 

 made of the culms, particularly those used by the people who 

 carry about the dancing snakes. 



In Bengal it is more luxuriant than on the coast. The 

 common Durma mats of that place are made of the stalks 

 split open. Vessels from the port of Calcutta are generally 

 dunuaged with them. 



3. A. bengalensis. Linn. sp. pi. ed. Willd. i. 455. Retz. 

 Obs. v. 20. 



Culms, from six to ten feet high, fistulous. Leaves bifari- 

 ous, sword-shaped, drooping. Panicle lax ; valvelets of the 

 calyx equal, from two to three-flowered ; exterior valve of 

 the corol woolly, daggered, and three-nerved. 



Benrf. Gaba-nul. 



This elegant species is found growing in ditches, and low 

 places in the vicinity of Calcutta, where it blossoms during 

 the months of October and November. 



Culms erect, from six to ten feet high, fistulous. Leaves 



