Tanicu/tt. ^TRiandria digynia. 307 



The two exterior ones with sharp subulate points; the inner one 

 ends in a pretty long, strong, hispid arista. — Corol, vviih a third, mem- 

 branaceous, neuter valve. — 6ee^ ovate, pointed, polished. 



Obs' It comes near my P. finmcntaceum, and may probably be 

 the same in its wild state. 



37- P- fnimentaceiim. R. 



Culms erect, from two to four feet high. Panicle erect ; spikes 

 secund, incurved ; flozcers three-folrl, nnequally pedicelled. Valve- 

 lets of the calyces daggered, or awned ; seed ovate, smooth. 



Sans. "g^ru^X^) Shyamaka. 



JBeng. Shama. 



Teling. Bonta-shama ; shamaloo, the grain. 



This I have only found in a state of culiivation, it delights in 

 a light, tolerably dry, rich soil ; the same ground yields two crops 

 between the tirst of the rains in June, July, and the end of January. 



Culms erect, ramous, a little compressed, smooth, from two to 

 four feet high — Leaves large, margins hispid. — Panicle erect, ob- 

 long, rigid, composed of numerous, secund, condensed, incurved 

 spikes; they entirely surround the common rachis and sometimes 

 tend to be verticelled. Rachis, common tive or six-sided, a little hai- 

 ry ; partial three-sided, waved. — Flowers almost always three fiom 

 the same point, one sessile, the second short pedicelled, and the third 

 a little longer pedicelled. — Calgx, with all the glumes three-nerved; 

 the two large daggered. — Corol, with a third neuter valve. — Seed 

 ovate, pointed, smooth. 



Obs. There are several varieties of it known to the Hindoo far- 

 mers. The seed is wholesome and nourishing, it is an article of 

 diet, particularly amongst the lower classes of the natives. It yieldg 

 about fifty-fold in a good soil. Cattle are fond of it. 



Sect. 6th. Panickd. 



38. P. trigonum. Linn. Sp. PL ed. Willd. i. 352. 

 Culms creeping. Panicle halved. Leaves stipuled. Pedicels two- 



M m a 



