HOLE : SOME INDIAN GRASSES AND THEIR CECOLOGY. 105 



84. The young culm in this species shows an Development 

 average of 10 short basal internodes carrying scales, after which each leaf carries a well- season of 

 developed lamina. The average mature flowering culm shows these 10 short basal inter- Activity and 

 nodes, then 10 long internodes and finally the panicle, thus giving 10 green leaves for the F,0 "' eriI,g * 

 culm which suggests 10 months as the usual period of vegetative activity and indicates that 



the average culm usually commences vigorous growth in February. This however has not 

 yel been satisfactorily determined. 



Flowering takes place in September — November and the culms are annual. 



The remarks given below, referring to additional points under this head, for Aristida 

 cyanantha also apply to this species. 



85. The remarks given below under these snsceptiwi- 



o *- ity to Fire 



heads for Aristida also apply to this species. Damage. 



Ltility as 

 Fodder. 



D. — Economic Uses. 



86. Is of some value on dry sandy, or gravelly, 

 soil as a pioneer of better vegetation. 



Aristida cyanantha, Steud ex Trin. (Plates II and XXXIV to XXXVI.) 



F. B. I., VII, 225 {excl. ref. Royle 111. Bot. Himal.). References. 



Western Himalaya and Sub-Himalayan tract from Kashmir to Kumaon. Distribution. 



Ascends to 5,000 feet. Extends to Afghanistan. 



A. — Description. 



Suhi, suhni (Dehra Dun). vernacular 



Erect, slender, attains a height of 10 feet and diameter of 021 in. cuTm. 



Solid throughout. 

 Glabrous, striate, green in colour. 



Secondary culms are often produced from the upper nodes which are usually poorly 

 nourished and show inferior dimensions. 



GlabrOUS. Leaf-sheath. 



The lamina disarticulates from the sheath and after the shedding of the lamina the 

 culms are covered with the straw-coloured persistent sheaths. The latter are also then shed 

 and the green culms are left naked from base to apex. 



Of uppermost leaf of flowering culm usually well-developed. On poorly nourished Lamina, 

 culms 4 inches long but attaining a length of 1\ feet. 



Of lower leaves attains a length of 2 feet 4 inches and width of 0-25 in. 



Linear acuminate, tapering from the base. 



Jointed to and deciduous from the sheath. 



[ 105 ] 



