N. 0. GRAMINEiE. 1373 



species which are popularly known as " Motia " and " Sofia, " although, up to 

 date, these have not been recognized as botanically distinct. 



That there is a difference between the two well-known varieties called 

 " Motia" and "Sofia " is evident from the inferior oil yielded by the latter, 

 though Botanists have so far been unable to accept such a classification. 



Mr. R. S. Hole, the Forest Botanist, says — 



" The structure of the flowers in all the plants is practically identi- 

 cal and I can find no characters of importance to separate them. All 

 the " Motia " plants, however, differ from " Sofia " as regards the wider 

 angle which the leaf blade makes with the culm, a character which 

 was first noticed and published by Mr. Burkill. Jt is doubtful, how- 

 ever, how far this character will prove constant and we must culti- 

 vate under varying conditions of soil and moisture the different forms 

 here at Dehra, keep them under observation, collect the flowers at 

 different seasons and prepare oil from them, before we can hope to 

 . define satisfactorily constant forms of value." 



Uses : — The oil is regarded as officinal in the Indian Phar- 

 macopoeia. This oil, occasionally called also Oil of Namur, was 

 first brought to notice in 1825 by Dr. N. Maxwell (Calcutta Med. 

 Phys. Trans., vol. i., p. 367), and it was further described in 1827 

 by Dr. Forsyth (Ibid., vol. iii., p. 213). From a series of trials 

 instituted with it at Madras, by Drs. Cole, Kellie, and Hunter, 

 it appears that as an application in rheumatism its efficacy is 

 chiefly limited to recent cases. In the severer forms and in the 

 chronic stage, the oil, even when undiluted, afforded only slight 

 relief (see Madras Medical Reports, 1855, p. 431, seq.) Favour- 

 able reports of it have been received from Dr. W. Dymock, Dr. 

 L. W. Stewart, Dr. 2E. Ross., &c. (Ph. Ind.) The oil is believed 

 to have the property of curing baldness, and to be useful in neu- 

 ralgia. " A spirit is distilled from the grass with spices, and 

 is said to be useful in indigestion and fever" (Stewart). " The 

 decoction of the grass is a febrifuge and I have used it 

 in cases of cold and feverishness with benefit." (Asst. Surg. 

 Bolly Ch. Sen in Watt's Die.) 



For further information on the uses of the oil consult Mr. 

 Pearson's Note referred to above and also Mr. Pnran Singh's 

 Note on the Constants of Indian Geranium Oil, published in the 

 same part of the Indian Forest Records referred to above. 



