» 
3 283 
and therefore that the seeds cannot be regarded as a proper substitute — — 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) Wrnpuam R. Dunstan. 
It is clear, seach note that as regards essential composition, Mussenda 
Coffee is of no more value as a coffee substitute than chicory, date coffee, 
acorns, and a variety of other substances which have from time to time 
been used or recommended. 
CXXIV.—-FOOD GRAINS OF INDIA (continued). 
(Dendrocalamus strictus, Nees.) 
In continuation of the investigations undertaken by Professor A. H. 
Church, F.R.S., respecting the alimentary value of the chief food grains 
of our Eastern Empire (Kew Bulletin, December 1887, p. 7, and /. c. 
1888, p. — PE those given by the same author in the 
Food Grains of India (London: Chapman and Hall, 1886), there is 
now given an analysis ofthe grain of the Male Bamboo (Dendrocalamus 
strictus, Nees). js grain was received at sas in August last from 
the Agricultural and Horticultural eet o 
he Maie Bamboo * is in many respects an poe plant, a 
and a E 
few words on its characteristics and distribution may precede the results 
eciduous, bam The stems have a | small central ca cavity or are 
entirely solid. They are closely packed in dense clumps, and the stiff 
leafless branches near the base assume a spinose character. The joints 
are 12 to 18 inches long and 1 to 3 inches in diameter. The leaves 
are exceedingly variable in size, tens 3 to 9 inches long, and a quarter 
. Th 
ovoid, a quarter of an inch long. This gps is widely spread and ve 
common throughout India and Burma. In t Panjab it is confined t 
the sub-Himalayan tract. It extends to Java, mde not to Ceylon. * The 
* species ass ee flowers gregariously, ums je single — 
Sir Di Dietrich Brandi i in the work olay cited, states that the stems of — 
the Male Bamboo attain 2 20 or : feet in the Panjab, in South India to 
first year. These seus are strong "and elastic ; héy are much u 
* But why Male it is dificult to say. In the structure of the flower pae species 
ssesses nothing exceptional that would account for the name, and it seeds 
ps 
