178 MONOCOTYLEDONS 



nodes are set with a ring of numerous adventitious roots, which 

 when they do not reach the earth sometimes turn into spikes. 

 The upper part of tlie culm hears hranches issuing from the nodes 

 in semi-whorls. When these are young, they point upwards and 

 enable the stem to find its way up through the thicket; when 

 old, they spread, bend down, and lean on any stems below them. 

 When the wind moves the culms, they rub against one another 

 and produce a groaning sound which is familiar to people who 

 live near bamlwo-thickets 



3. In August and September Young* Stems appear from the 

 root-stock. The rapidity of their growth is astonishing. The 

 rate of it can be ascertained by taking measurements every day. 

 These tender culms produce, at their nodes, imperfect leaves, viz., 

 sheaths with no blades, which serve as protective covers. When 

 the internodes are full-grown tliese become useless and drop. 

 The leaves at the ends of the culm are complete. The^e, too, 

 are shod in the dry season, a peculiar feature in the Bamboo, 

 unlike other grasses. 



4. The Flowers are produced in branched spikes clustered 

 round the nodes. They are generally monoecious. Stamens six. 

 Style with a feathery stigma. Bamboos liower rarely. But when 

 they fiower, they do so throughout the whole district at the same 

 time. It has been observed that thirty-two years lapse from one 

 flowering year to the next: forthe years 1804, 1836, 1868and 1900 

 have been the years when the Bamboo was in ilower during the 

 last century in Southern Mahratta, Kanara, Malabar and Coorg. 

 After flowering the root-stock seems to be entirely exhausted, 

 ;ni(l produces but small and weak culms. Slowly but gradually 

 its vigour is restored so tlmt only after the lapse of thirty-two 

 years Howers and seeds can be produced again. 



'). The Uses of tin; r)amboo are nearly as manifold as those 

 of the Cocoanut tree. The stems are used for building houses, 

 sheds, bridges, for manufacturing all sorts of furniture and 

 household articles; young sprouts are eaten as vegetable, and 

 the seeds afford a nutritious food like rice. -* 



(3. Spinifex (Spinifex squarrosus; Kan. Havana gadda). 



1. Habitat. — Kvory one who has once strolled along the 



