98 INDIAN FOREST MEMOIRS. 



Another irregularity of growth which has been particularly noticed in the case of the 

 marsh form is that a length of long stolen-internodes frequently succeeds a length of very 

 short internodes, which as a rule immediately precedes the aerial culm. 



This is believed to be caused by an alteration in the ground-surface level and to the 

 growing points of young culms being covered with fresh deposits of soil and water-brought 

 debris. 



The marsh form, also, instead of having only four long internodes below the panicle, 

 usually produces 7 and the immature culms often show a height of 2 to 3 feet and probably 

 more, instead of about 1 inch, at the end of the first rainy season. 



This form, however, is comparatively rare, of little value as fodder and, owing to the 

 conditions of its habitat, little subject to fire damage, and in the following notes it is left 

 out of consideration. 



It must be noted that young culms may commence their development at any time during 

 the period of vigorous vegetative activity and culms which commence their growth towards 

 the end of the rains, or exceptionally early in the following hot weather, may complete 

 their cycle and flower in September — October. In this way the sporadic flowering in the 

 cold season which is characteristic of the species is probably brought about. 



On lawns, or grazed areas, where vegetative activity is in progress for about 10 months 

 in the year, the time of flowering is also irregular for the same reason. 



The course of development indicated above, however, which results in gregarious flower- 

 ing towards the close of the hot season is believed to be the rule, at all events in Upper 

 India, and Roxburgh notes " particularly common over Bengal, where the fields are white 

 with it when in flower, after the first rains in April and May." 1 



susceptibii- 77. During the cold and beginning of the hot 



ity to Fire , _ ° o o 



Damage. season when the sirhu areas are chiefly exposed to fire damage, the aerial portion of the 

 plant consists mainly of the immature short leafy culms, with a few flowering culms and a 

 few young culms which are just commencing their aerial development. The dead and dry 

 aerial portion of the flowering culms is of course liable to be burnt. The growing points of 

 the stolons and of the youngest culms are as a rule situated below the ground surface and 

 are therefore not liable to injury. 



The most extensive damage is liable to occur in the case of the immature leafy culms 

 which commenced growth at the beginning of the preceding rains and which in ordinary 

 course would produce flowering panicles towards the close of the hot season. The mature 

 leaves of these culms are, as already noted, more or less dead and dry and the burning of this 

 inflammable material may result in the death of the growing apex of the culm and the non- 

 production of a flowering panicle. In this way fires may diminish and interfere with the 

 usual gregarious flowering in April — May. The extent of the damage done depends largely 



1 l.c, p. 234. 



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