54 INDIAN FOREST MEMOIRS. 



Hackel refers this species of Roxburgh doubtfully to Saccharum arundinaceum Retz. 

 It is possible that Roxburgh's remark in his description of this species " compare with 

 Saccharum arundinaceum " {I.e., p. 245) is to some extent responsible for this identification. 

 It is not clear what Roxburgh meant by this, for there is no doubt that the Saccharum 

 arundinaceum of Retz is the Saccharum procerum of Roxburgh. The unpublished plate of 

 Saccharum exaltatum, while clearly showing that Roxburgh's plant is not Saccharum 

 arundinaceum, is a very fair representation of Saccharum Narenga with which the culm, 

 leaf, narrow brownish panicle, length of joints of panicle branches, the brown colour of 

 glumes I and II and other characters agree well. 



On the other hand the plant figured in Rhede's Hortus malabaricus, XII, t. 46, is 

 almost certainly Saccharum spontaneum and Roxburgh himself considers Rhede's plant to 

 be probably his Saccharum exaltatum (I.e., p. 245). 



Against this identification with Saccharum spontaneum however is the fact that 

 glumes I and II of Saccharum exaltatum are described and drawn as " covered with much 

 long, cream-coloured soft hair " (I.e., p. 245). Roxburgh's description " root-creeping " 

 while applying to forms of both Saccharum spontaneum and Saccharum Narenga does not 

 apply to either Saccharum arundinaceum or Saccharum Munja, On the whole therefore 

 it seems probable that Saccharum exaltatum Roxb. = Saccharum Narenga Wall, although it 

 is remarkable that Roxburgh makes no mention of the bearded leaf-insertions and hirsute 

 leaf -sheaths. It must however be remembered that the hairs on the sheaths of this species 

 are deciduous. 



C. — .Biological and (Ecological Notes 



Habitat. 46. This is on the whole the most xerophilous 



species of Saccharum dealt with in this paper, a fact which is indicated by its exceedingly 

 narrow, hard and glaucous leaves. It is often found on dry sand associated with Triraphis, 

 Andropogon monticola and stunted Saccharum Munja. 



At the same time it is not sensitive as regards soil-aeration and like Imperata it can 

 thrive on stiff clay, while its maximum dimensions are attained (by variety nepalense) in 

 the water-logged soil of the marsh. 



Its occurrence indicates that it requires even less moisture than Imperata. 



It is frequently seen on loam which is too dry for a vigorous development of Imperata, 

 or which is too dry or too water-logged for Saccharum Munja, S. Narenga or Erianthus 

 Ravennce and it is there often associated with Veliveria zizanioides Stapf (= Andropogon 

 squarrosus). 



It has some capacity for standing shade and culms produced in the shade of trees and 

 shrubs show exceptional length and have been measured in this locality up to 12 feet 8 

 inches. 



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