19. Hethbopoqon.] 97. GRAMINE&. [20. Cymbopogow, 



sessile spikelets differing from all the upper ones, closely 

 imbricate, male or neuter, Sessile s pikelets sub- terete or Gl. 

 I dorsally flab ; II obtusely keeled ; III hyaline ; IV reduced 

 to a long stout awn. 



1. H. COntortus, Roem t Syn. Andropogon contortus, L. 

 Sauri M.; Saiyu, Ho.; Sauri ghas, S. ; Chorant, Khatw. 

 Spear grass. 



A well-known grass 1-3 ft. or in fertile ground 5 ft. high, 

 with leaves scabrid above, ligule membranous truncate ciliolate 

 and spikelets in dense imbricate spikes terminating in the 

 long twisted awns of the sessile spikelets which are furnished 

 with a pungent callus bearing a barb of stiff hairs. 



Gregarious. Throughout Chota Nagpur esp. on the hills, but also in 

 open ground in the valleys. Fls. SepL-Dec. Fr. Oct.-Jany. but all the 

 fruits may not become detached until March. 



Used much for thatching. The young grass is a fair fodder, the old 

 grass is also used for fodder but only because there is often nothing 

 better, it causes a reddish colour in the dung of horses, and sometimes 

 Eevere ulceration (from the spears) in the gums of cattle and horses. It 

 is a pest to forest officers from the barbed callus penetrating the clothes 

 and flesh. The awns, as in other awned grasses are very hygroscopic and 

 by their contortions and the barbed callus the fruits readily penetrate to 

 a position favourable for germination. 



20. Cynibopogon, Stapf. 



Usually tall perennial often scented grasses. {Spikelets 

 paired sessile and pedicelled, in shorfc spikes which are 

 geminate and usually divaricate on a slender often very 

 short peduncle which is sheathed by a spathe. One or more 

 of the sessile spikelets at the base of the spike different 

 from all the others. Spathes with their geminate spikes 

 variously arranged in racemes and panicles, each order of 

 branching being in its turn sheathed by a leaf or bract. 

 Spikelets several pairs. Sessile spikelets above the lowest 

 fern, or 2-sexual, dorsally compressed, Gl. I. flat, with 

 indexed margins and often winged keels, sometimes grooved 

 or pitted, awnless ; II cymbiform, keeled ; III oblong 



579 i2 



