1376 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



in length, rounded on the back, thin, membranous, veined, 

 pale-green, becoming white as the grain ripens ; pales 2, shorter 

 than the glumes, lower one faintly nerved, lanceolate, bifid, 

 rounded on the back, smooth, afterwards hard and firm, pale- 

 green, awned ; awn proceeding from the back of the pale and 

 H times as long, rough and twisted ; upper pale rather shorter 

 than the lower, thin, transparent, 2-toothed ; margins inflexed. 

 Within the pales are two small ciliate scales (lodicules). 

 Stamens 3, exserted ; anthers yellow. Styles 2, short feathery, 

 white. Fruit (the grain) closely covered by, but not adherent 

 to, the hard persistent pales, |in. in length, narrowly oval- 

 oblong, hairy, and with a deep furrow on the inside. (Duthie.) 



Uses : — It is believed to produce poisonous and deleterious 

 effects. (Stewart). 



Regarding its use in the treatment of Diabetes, see my 

 brochure " Diabetes and its Dietetic Treatment " (8th Edition, 

 1917). B. D. B. 



1343. Gynodon dactylon, Pers., h.f.b.i. vii. 288 ; 

 Roxb. 289. 



Syn :— Panicum dactylon, Linn. 

 Sans. : — Durva. 



Vern. : — Duba, kali ghas, ram ghas, nil dub, dhupsa, 

 hariali, (H.) ; Dub, daurva, dubra, kabbar, talla, (Pb.) ; 

 Burawa (Trans-Indus); Chibhar (Sind); Dub, durba, (B.) ; 

 Dobi-ghas (Santal) ; Durva, karala, haryeli (Mar.) ; Arugam- 

 pilla, hariali (Tarn.) ; Ghericha, haryali (Tel.). 



Habitat : —Throughout India. 



Stem slender, prostrate, widely creeping, forming matted 

 tufts, with slender erect or ascending flowering branches 3-12 

 in. high. Leaves f-4 by ^Vi i n -> narrowly linear or lanceolate, 

 finely acute to pungent, more or less glaucous, soft, smooth, 

 usually conspicuously distichous in the barren shoots, and at 

 the base of the stems ; sheaths tight, glabrous or hairy, some- 

 times bearded at the mouth ; ligule a very fine ciliate rim. 



