PLATE 440. 



Eleusine coRACiANA, Gtei'tn. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 64,5). 



Nat. Order GramineiB. 



Yery like E. Indira but more robust, u]) to 5 feet high. 



SriKELETS more croAvded, to as tliick as a finger, often curved ; rhachilla tough. 



Glumes and valves broader, ovate in profile, obtuse. Grain globose, ^ tci \ lino 

 in diameter, usualty dark reddish brown, finely striate, strife cur-s-ed. 



Eabitat : Natal. In a coffee plantation, near Durban, Drege 429-t ; William- 

 son 42 ; Tugela, Buchanan 182 ; without precise locahty, (rerrard 469 ; in a kaffir 

 garden, Zululand, 2000 feet alt, May, Wood 3869. 



" Grown in many parts of tropical Africa, tropical Arabia, and throughou^t India ; 

 origuiated probably from E. indiea. The figure iu Gasrtner represents the seed as 

 smooth (not striate) ; there is little doubt that it refers to a A'ariety which is grown 

 in India and Southern Arabia, distinguished by smooth, whitish seeds. This I have 

 not seen from any part of Africa " (Stapf). 



Cultivated by the natives, who use the seed ground with their Amaas, and as 

 porridge for the children, also for making beer. Baron F. v. Mueller says of it : 

 " Southern Asia, east to Japan, ascending the Himalayas to 7000 feet. Though 

 annual, this grass is worthy of cultiA'ation on account of its height and nutritiveness. 

 It is of rapid growth and the produce of foliage and seeds copious. Horses prefer the 

 hay to any other dry fodder in India, according to Dr. Forbes - Watson. The large 

 grains can be used like millet, and a peculiar beer can be brewed from it. One of the 

 staple grains of Mysare. E. indiea only differs as a variety. It extends to tropical 

 Australia, and is recorded also from many other tropical countries, but thrives well 

 even as far as Port Philip, and luxuriates still as far south as Gippsland during the 

 hot season. 



Native name u-Poko. 



Fig 1, Lower glume ; 2, upper glume ; 3, valve ; 4, pale ; 5, pistil, stamens and lodicules. 

 All enlarged. 



