LIST OF GRASSES FROM ASMEDABAD AND SURAT. 113 



7. Papsalum, L. 



1. P. distichion, L. 



In the Victoria G-ardens, Ahmedabad. This may be an alien imported with 

 garden seeds. 



8. Ekiochloa, H. B. et K. 



1. E. polystacJiya, H. B. et K. 



Wet places, Surat and Ahmedabad. Especially common along the banks 

 of the Chandola Canal, Ahmedabad, in association with Ranicum punctatum, 

 Burm (q. v.). Flowers mid and late monsoon. (SD. or almost D.) 



9. Sacchartjm, L. 



1. S. spontaneum, L. 



Common, Surat, and very common, Ahmedabad, on natural waste land in 

 valleys and the edges of nullahs, often in association with Andropogon 

 Squarrosus, L. Flowers from September onwards. (SD. or almost D.) 



10. Erianthus, Michx. 



1. E. Ravenncs, Beauv. (teste R. K. Bhide.) 



Abundant at Ahmedabad on all waste sandy ground. This grass, which is 

 usually erroneously called " Pampas grass " by European residents, is not only 

 a conspicuous feature of the landscape round Ahmedabad, but has an important 

 economic use, as its long stiff stems are tied together to form tatties for that- 

 ching and sold by the Waghris and Marwari gipsies of Ahmedabad. From the 

 fact that its clumps are often found in conspicuous lines it may be inferred 

 that it used to be planted. It is a great hiding place for hare, jackal, quail 

 and other animals. In Gujerati it is called " Sarkhat." Cooke's description is 

 defective in several particulars, the dimensions of length both of the stem 

 and the leaves being understated, and the dimensions of the breadth of the 

 leaves overstated. He describes the leaves as flat whereas they are, except 

 at the tip, deeply grooved. This grass is essentially a sand-grass and is typical 

 of North-West India. Ahmedabad is probably its furthest southern limit. 

 Flowers, October onwards. (D.) 



I venture to suggest that the genera Saccharum and Erianthus ought to be 

 amalgamated. The differentiation of the occasional awn in Erianthus ought 

 not to outweigh the remarkable similarity of habit between the two genera. 

 Saccharum spontaneum is an exact miniature of Erianthus Ravennce. The 

 similarity of leaf-form, with the grooved and uneqxial-sided blade and 

 conspicuous white midrib is very noticeable. 



11. Pollinia, Trin. 



1. P. argentea, Trin. 



Not uncommon on roadsides at Surat. (Spor.) 



12. ROTTBOELLIA, L. fil. 



1. R. c@mpressa, L. f . 



On the banks of the Kankaria tank, Ahmedabad (Spor.) 



2. R. exaltata, L. f. (teste R. K. Bhide.) 



Fields of gourds, Ahmedabad. There is a taller and more glaucus Rotthoellia 

 which grows commonly on the roadsides at Surat. This I placed to R. exaltata, 

 but Mr. Bhide's identification of the Ahmedabad specimens as belonging 

 to that species make me doubt whether the Surat grass does not belong to 

 a different species. Unfortunately I have no Surat specimens by me, and 

 no access to that district at present. (Spor.) 

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