194 THE TRUE GRASSES. 



branches of some species are thorny on account of nu- 

 merous hard and pointed twigs (aborted branches) ; a 

 circle of secondary roots, which occasionally become 

 thorn-like when they do not reach the ground, frequently 

 occur on the lower culm-nodes below the insertion of 

 the branches ; the leaf- blade is often short, usually with 

 a short petiole and jointed at the base, frequently decid- 

 uous ; sheaths often fringed at the throat ; the long nerves 

 of the blade are bound together in many species by 

 prominent cross-nerves. 



After the ripening of the seed, the ground becomes 

 covered with countless young plants with slender, pliant 

 stems, and a thick foliage, resembling a meadow of wav- 

 ing grasses. This growth lasts many years, until the 

 rhizomes have attained their full size, when the culms, 

 some of which have been formed each preceding year, 

 for the first time attain their full height and thickness. 

 In the tropics a number of young culms in each clump 

 shoot up during the rainy season, often attaining their 

 full height (even to 40 m.) in from 40-60 days. The en- 

 tire internodes of the growing culms, and the lower part 

 only of those which are full grown, are surrounded by 

 large, parchment-like sheaths which are frequently cov- 

 ered with long deciduous hairs, and which below bear 

 small dry membranaceous blades that become larger 

 and leaf-like above. In this condition the culms have 

 no branches and are soft, but they become lignified to- 

 wards the end of the first year, and branches and leaves 

 are developed at the same time. In regard to flowering, 

 we may distinguish between those that bloom frequently 

 and those which rarely flower. 



Many species (Arunctinaria Wightiana Nees, upon the 

 Neilgherries, species of Gucidua and Chiisqttea) bloom an- 

 nually, and the panicle is terminal on the leafy branches. 

 In others (Dendrocalamus strictus Nees), single culms shed 

 their leaves and become covered with panicles of flowers, 

 while others again retain their foliage. Upon these 

 species, which are of frequent occurrence in all the East 

 Indies, blooming culms may consequently be found 

 nearly every year. In other species, on the contrary, 



