139. GRAMINE.T:. [56. Dimeria. 



This grass forms one of the priucipal constituents of the grass lands in the north 

 of Purneah ! FL, Fr. Nov.-Dec. 



Attains 10-15 ft. in the neighbouring savannahs of the Duars. Stems brownish 

 pohshed 'lo-lS" diam. in our area. Sheaths glabrous or very slightly villous on 

 margins at base and inside at base of ligule, ligule verj^ short "lacmiate or 0. 

 Peduncle villous below the panicle. 



55. IMPERATA, CyrUl. 

 Perennial erect grasses with flat leaves and spikelets 1-2-fld., 

 similar, 2-nate and pedicelled, in spiciforni or thyrsiform silvery- 

 silky panicles. Upper flower (if two) alone perfect with 4 mem- 

 branous awnless glumes. Gl. i and ii lanceolate hairy ; iii much 

 smaller hyaline glabrous ; iv smallest hyaline glabrous with hyaline 

 palea. Lodicules 2, broad, toothed. Stamens 1-2, anthers large, 

 linear. Styles connate at base, stigmas linear. Grain small, oblong, 

 free. 



1. I. arundinacea, Cyrill. Chero, K., S. ; 8iru, Ulu, H. 



A common caespitose coarse grass 1-3 ft. high with erect flat leaves 

 usually short at the time of flowering. Very conspicuous at the end 

 of the hot weather, especially after jungle fires from its silvery- white 

 spiciform panicles 2-6" long with the dark anthers and stigmas 

 among the hairs ; when quite young the panicles are purple. 



Usually gregarious, especially on open loamy or clayey ground, and when 

 low-lying, where it may become a considerable pest. Probably in all districts but, 

 like some other common plants, only two specimens from our area exist in the 

 Cat. Herb., one from Manbhum, Camp.l the other from Mayurbhanj, Hooperl It 

 is common at Neterhat, 3000 ft. on the pats and in many other places! Fl. 

 April-May, but also noted in flower Oct. -Dec. 



Rootstock widely creeping and stoloniferous. Stems thickened, pubescent or 

 wooly at base, solid, glabrous above or nodes bearded. Leaves when mature 

 3-4 ft. long by -b-'l" diam., finely acuminate, when young often thinly hairy as are 

 the sheaths ; ligule short hairy. Branches of the panicle not breaking up, short 

 crowded appressed. Spkts. unequally pedicelled. •12--15" long, lanceolate, hairs 

 on callus twice as long. 



It used to be one of the grasses recommended for paper-making and is sometimes 

 used for thatching. The white stolons are grul)bed up by animals. It is scarcely 

 touched hj cattle except when first sprouting (when there is scarcely any grass 

 which cattle will not eat). 



The following additional notes are from Hole : — 



Three forms can he distinguished: (1) The depaui^erate form common on lawns 

 or areas where the grass is continually cut or grazed, with minute almost filiform 

 culms and small leaves. Leaf -insertions usually long bearded. Gl. iv and palea 

 usually glabrous. (2) The ordinary savannah form which usually attains a height 

 of about 3 ft. with leaves up to •?" wide. Leaf-insertions bearded or glabrous. 

 Palea and gl. iv ciliate. (3) A robust form found in swamps or mar.shy soils where 

 there is abundance of moisture more or less throughout the year.*^ This plant 

 attains a height of 9J ft. L. up to I'l" wide, leaf-insertions glabrous. Palea and 

 gl. IV cdiate ; (this is var. lufifolia^ Ilool-.f.). 



56. DIMERIA, Br. 



Slender grasses with narrow leaves and spikelets 1-fld. unilateral 

 alternate (not geminate) on single terminal or usuallv several 

 racemed or digitate spikes, sessile or pedicelled, rhachis inarticulate. 

 Glumes 4 ; i linear, rigid ; ii broader compressed ; iii smaller, hyaline, 

 empty; iv hyaline, 2-sexual, entire or 2-lobed, keeled, 1 -nerved, 

 usually awned ; awn terminal or from the sinus, capillary, twisted 



1015 



