( 9 ) 



An excellent fodder grass for both horses and cattle. It is found 

 chiefly on cultivated ground in the plains, and occurs on the Himalaya 

 up to about 5,000 feet. The short awn-like point to the fruiting glume 

 is its best distinguishing character. 



P. humile, Nees. Vern.— Cent. Prov. : Katki and urdiya (Chanda). 



A slender annual, about one foot in height. Leaves lanceolate acuminate, sparsely 

 hairy. Panicle spreading ; glumes acuminate prominently nerved. 



I have seen specimens from the Punjab and Central Provinces, and have gathered 

 it in Bundelkhand, where it is said to be a good fodder grass. 



P. indicum, Linn. Vern. — Lodi-gadi (Chanda in Cent. Prov.). 



Closely allied to P. myosuroides (see description), but not so plentiful in Northern 

 India. It is a smaller plant, with much shorter and somewhat interrupted spikes. 

 The spikelets are also much smaller, and more or less curved ; the second glume is 

 curved and gibbous at the base. 



P. jumentorum, Pers. Syn. — P. maximum, Jacq. 



Perennial. Stems tall, 3-5 feet, leaves broad, flat, acuminate; sheaths 

 and nodes hairy. Panicle large and loose with numerous capillary much 

 divided branches. Spikelets many, stalked. Lower outer glume one- 

 fourth the length of the spikelet, ovate obtuse, the third glume encloses 

 a male flower ; fruiting glume acute, slightly rugose. 



This is the " Guinea-grass," a native of Tropical Africa, and now ex- 

 tensively cultivated in most tropical countries. Although it seeds freely 

 in this country, it is nevertheless found preferable to propagate it by 

 root cuttings. In the United States it is usually planted in this way, as 

 it rarely matures seed in that country. Manuring is beneficial where 

 frosts prevail. Analysis shows it to be very rich in nutritive qualities; 

 and, as it appears to thrive well in the plains of Northern India, its ex- 

 tended cultivation should be encouraged. 



P. miliaceum, Linn.* Syn. — P. asperrimum, Lagasc. ; P. Milium, 

 Pers. Vern. — General: Chena, china, chinwa and chirwa; Trans- 

 Indus: Tsedze, (Ladak); Punjab: Sdlan (Stewart), anne (Chenab 

 basin), zad (Sutlej basin) ; Oudh : Sawan-chaitwa and sdwan-jethwa 

 (Bara Banki); Bundelkhand: Bansi phihar and rati ; Teling: Worga 

 (Roxb.); South India: Vardgu, 



Annual, hairy. Stems erect, 2-4 feet high, leafy, simple or branched 

 from the base. Leaves large, broad, acuminate, pilose or hispid; 

 sheaths long, densely hairy. Panicle much branched ; branches slender, 

 elongate, spreading, ultimately bending over from the weight of the 

 grain. Spikelets rather large, inflated, oblong, acute, smooth; lower 

 glume one-third shorter than the spikelet, acute or cuspidate. Grain 



• See Plate A., Fig. 2, of present Volume. 



