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INDIAN FOREST MEMOIRS. 



of the flowering culm proper. The basal series of short internodes in a normal culm is pro- 

 duced as a rule close to the ground surface, the initial long internodes of the flowering culm 

 being well above the ground. In the exceptional case noted above, however, the first series 

 of short internodes is deep below the ground, the second series is just below the surface, 

 while vigorous roots are developed from this second series and from the long internodes 

 below it. 



The clumps of this species, which is usually found on alluvial soil in, or close to, the 

 beds of water-courses, are particularly liable to be more or less covered by masses of sand, 

 or debris, brought down by floods in the rains and this is apparently the cause of the abnor- 

 mal development noted above. 



At the beginning of the rains, the basal long internodes of the flowering culm have, as 

 a rule, already completed their growth, but when these are covered with soil or debris, 

 vigorous roots are developed from their nodes and this appears to check the development 

 of the flowering culm and to result in the production of a second series of several short 

 internodes near the surface of the ground, after which the normal long internodes of the 

 flowering culm may be produced the same season, or this may be deferred to the next growing 

 season. In the latter case the culm persists for three seasons. 



If, when the change of soil level takes place, the flowering culm has so far developed 

 that some mature long internodes are still left uncovered, although roots are produced by 

 the submerged nodes, there is no development of a second series of short internodes, or 

 check in the growth of the flowering culm as noted above. 



Exceptional development is also frequently caused by the fact that the leaves of this 

 species are largely cut and used for thatching. For this purpose the immature leafy culms 

 of the first season are cut over at a height of 1 to 2 feet above the ground. This operation 

 does not damage the low-seated apex of the culm itself, but results in the more or less 

 complete destruction of the upper green leaves which, in ordinary course, would have 

 nourished the long internodes of the flowering culm next season. Instead of long inter- 

 nodes and the flowering panicle being developed next season therefore, such a damaged 

 culm only produces a second series of some 10 short internodes, while the production of the 

 long internodes of the flowering culm is deferred to the third season. In such cases there- 

 fore the culm persists for three instead of two seasons and the base of the flowering culm 

 shows about 22 short internodes at the base, aggregating 2 — 4 inches in length, instead of 

 the usual 12 short internodes aggregating 1 — 2 inches. In areas where this grass is cut 

 for thatching purposes it has been noticed that there is frequently a marked periodicity in 

 flowering, an unusually large number of flowering culms being produced in one year, while 

 the next year very few or no culms flower. The cutting is usually done in October — Janu- 

 ary and it is clear that during the following rains each clump will contain (1) the culms 

 which were cut over and which are developing a second series of short basal internodes in 

 consequence, (2) the young culms which are in their first season. None of these will ordi- 

 narily flower that year but next year both (1) and (2), if they are not further damaged or 



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