26 



SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



is a broad well developed continuous band of sclerenchyma, which 

 is connected at regular intervals with the epidermis by small vas- 

 cular bundles. Another row of vascular bundles lies just inside the 

 clerenchymatous ring and each of these bundles is in contact with 

 the band. Away from the ring lie a number of bundles forming a 

 series disposed in two irregular rings around a broad portion of 

 the ground tissue. (See figs. 31 and 32.) 







PufpP 



FlG. 34. — Transverse section of a portion of 'he stem of Andropogon caricosus. x 75 

 1, Epidermis : 2. sclerenchyma ; 3. vascular bundle. 



The stem of the grass Andropogon caricosus is oval in outline, 



the front being- 

 flat. The epider- 

 mal cells and 

 those below and 

 in contact with 

 them are thick- 

 walled. The 

 sclerenchymatous 

 ring though pre- 

 sent is very nar- 

 row and not very 

 conspicuous. It 

 consists of one or 

 two layers of cells 

 connecting a few 

 vascular bundles 

 formir g the outer- 

 most set. There 

 is a series of 

 vascular bundles 

 inside the ring 

 which surrounds 

 a large area of the ground tissue. Two isolated bundles, one in 

 front and another at the back of the ground tissue, are found. The 



Fig. 



35. — Transverse section of a j 

 stem of Panicum Isachne. 



Epidermis ; 2. sclerenchyma ; 3. 



rtion of the 

 x 100 



vascular bundle. 



