BOMBAY GRASSES. 115 
that of the whole grain, and it is richer than the ordinary sort in oil, mineral 
matters and albuminoids. 
‘ BAMBUSEA, 
This tribe is represented in this Presidency by five or six species, I have 
received flowering specimens of only three. Of the remaining my knowledge is 
derived from books, 
Bampusa, Schreber. 
B. arundinacea, Retz., Roxb. Cor. Pl. t. 79 ; Fl. Ind. Il. 191; Dalz, and 
Gibs., Bomb. Fl., 299 ; Bed. Fl. Sylv. t. 321. 
Ver.—Vansa, Bans, Mandgay (Bombay), Man Venduru (Telugu). 
Stem tall, up to 30 to 80 ft. high, green, shining densely cespitose in clumps 
of 30 to 100, hollow-jointed, with numerous spinescent branches, Cavity small, 
walls thick, Thorns double or triple, at the root of the branches ; when triple, 
the middle one the largest ; all strong, sharp and sometimes curved (rarely absent). 
Leaves sheathing, 2 to 8 in. long, 3 to 1 inch broad, short petioled lanceolate, 
broader at the base, rounded at the apex, generally glabrous, the upper surface 
and margins backwardly hispid, sometimes scattered short hairs on the under 
surface. Sheaths coriaceous, 12 in. long, somewhat downy, with scattered 
hairs on each side of the mouth. Spathe deciduous, 1 to 1% feet long, glaucous 
inside, and terminating in a long point. Flowers appear at long intervals, 
probably at the age of 30 years. During inflorescence, the stem with a few 
scattered leaves ; the whole covered with numerous half-verticelled spikes ; each 
verticel composed. of several sessile, glabrous, 6 to 12 flowered spikelets ; fertile 
flowers 3 to 10 in each spikelet. Empty glumes 2 to 4; flowering glumes 
3 to 10, the upper generally sterile or staminiferous, all thickened and mucronate, 
glabrous, sometimes shorter than the palea, not ciliate at the edges. Palea often 
longer ; edges fimbriate. Scales two, hyaline, fimbriate, Stamens 6, free at the 
base ; anthers with an obtuse glabrous point. Ovary glabrous ; style slightly 
enlarged at the base, soon deeply divided in 2 to 3 long plumose branches, 
Caryopsis linear oblong, 4 inch long, enclosed in the flowering glume and palea, 
This bamboo occurs in Belgaum, Khandeish, Dangs, at Sironcha on the 
Godavery, Malabar and Canara; abundant throughout the Madras Presidency, 
up to the elevation of 3,000 ft; at the base of the Satpura range ; Jubbulpore, 
Bengal, and cultivated in the sub-Himalayan tract in the Punjab and elsewhere, 
The culm which attains a height of 60 to 80 ft., or higher along the coast, 
and a diameter of 6 to 8 in., is by far the most important of several species. It 
supphes poles and rafters for building purposes, scaffolding, ladders, fencing, 
trellis-work, fishing rods, window and door blinds, and in the manufacture of 
chairs, sofas, baskets and winnowing fans, &c. The rhizome and young shoots 
are made into preserves, pickles, and cooked with spices is made into relishing 
dishes. Mr. Lettridge says that this and other species are capable of being 
employed in the manufacture of paper. Long immersion of bamboos in water, 
