139. GRAMINE^. [10. Eragrostis 



Var. a. plumosa, Stajyf {tenella proper). 



Panicle open, branches capillary, nodes beai-cled. Spkts. long- or short- 

 pedicelled, 3-9-tld,, rhachilla subarticiilate, gl. i and ii unequal, ii sometimes Ik 

 times longer; flg. gl. •0:^-'04", anthers very minute. 



Behar, Hope I Santal Tfirg., Nui-kerl Gya, Mokim ! Mcmghyr, Kiirz, MoJcim I 

 Eauchi, U'ood, etc I Hazaribagh, Clarkel Manbhum, Camp., Clarke I Puri, 

 Walih, (one specimen 2 ft. high) ! 



Var. /.^. riparia, Stcvpf. 



Stems laxer, geniculate at base from a rather elongated rootstock. Panicle con- 

 tracted, lower aiscending branches not more than -4." long, subfiliform or capillary,, 

 rhachis glabrous. Glumes and gi-ain as in plumosa. Sandy tracts, Puri, Walsh I 

 Perennial. 



Var. y. breviculmis, Stajjf. 



&7a/{f describes this as with stems l-.'J", usually ascending from a prostrate base,. 

 panicle 1-1"5", by "iS-'S" broad, oblong to ovate-oblong, rather dense but not 

 compact, rhachis bearded or not, emptj- glumes subequal, flg. gls. "Oi" long, grain 

 •02". 



Monghyr, near the hot springs, J". D.TZ". ! Two specimens are ascribed to it in 

 the Cal. Herb., one from Sant. Parg,, the other from Pari. Except for the smaller 

 panicle and habit they resemble tenella proper. 



4. E. viscosa, Trin. Sj^n. E. tenella, var. viscosa, Stapf. 



Tufted 6-15' high, the panicles oeciipjang the greater part of the- 

 plant. Leaves mostly convolute erecto-patent 1-3" long with rigid 

 tips, base and mouth of sheath Avith very long cilia. Panicles dense, 

 cylindric or oblong, 3-5" long by -7-1 -5" broad, with very numerous 

 more or less spreading equal sometimes opposite or 2-nate principal 

 branches, but never in interrupted whorls as in interrupta, ciliate at the 

 nodes or not, with scattered microscopic glands chiefly on the pedicels 

 and glumes which render the plant viscid and sweet-scented. Spkts. 

 usually about -12" long and 7-fld., up to 16-fld., rhachilla readily 

 breaking up. Gl. i and ii subequal -04" ; flg. glumes broadly ellipsoid 

 obtuse or rounded -05" with keel minutely scaberulous. Palea nearly 

 as long as glume, rigidly ciliate on the keels. Grain pale-brown 

 polished oval -02" long. 



Shahabad, i\'at.7< ! Patna. J/aw. ! llanchi, common ! Sambalpur, common ! 

 Probably throughout the province. Fl., Fr. Sept.-Dec. 



T have kept this distinct chiefly on account of the form of the panicle and the 

 glands which give tlie plant a distinct smell noticeable as one walks through it, so 

 that it is easily recognisable in the field. Cattle dislike it. 



5. E. interrupta, Beauv. 



A variable slender grass from a few inches high to 3 ft., stems often 

 geniculate and ascending from the base, tufted. Leaves slender up 

 to about 9" by -2", often only 2", glabrous, sheaths not ciliate at the 

 mouth. Panicle very variable, usually stiff, eciliate at the nodes, 

 interrupted with the main branches often pseudo-verticillate. 8pikelets 

 •Ot)--25" long, ovate to linear, few to many-flowered. Flg. glumes 

 obtuse, nerves slender, keels of palea scaberulous or smooth, stamen* 

 2, grain obovoid. 



There are many varieties : 



Var. a. Koenigii, Staj^f. 



Panicle long narrow with short dense suberect or erecto-patent pseudo-whorls,, 

 .spikelets shortly pedicelled usually G-li-tid., flg, gl. lower "Oi" long; pedicels,. 



957 



