( 15 ) 



S. italica, Beam, Syn. — Panicum italicum, Linn. Vern, — Gene- 

 ral : Kangni and Jcdkun; Trans-Indus: Gal; Punjab: Chiurr ( Jhelum 

 basin) ; Chutia Nagpur : Kauni. 



Annual. Stems branching, round, smooth, erect, 3-5 feet high, or 

 decumbent below and rooting from the lower nodes. Leaves broad, 

 margins rough with forward bristles ; mouth of sheath bearded. Panicles 

 ovate forming dense cylindrical spikes which bend over as they become 

 ripe. Spikelets 2-flowered, intermixed with setiform peduncles disposed 

 in the form of involucres. 



Both wild and cultivated in India, and largely grown in other warm 

 countries. In Northern India it is usually sown as a subordinate crop 

 accompanying juar or sawan. It is cultivated on the Himalaya at low 

 elevations. Its abundant and nutritious foliage yields an excellent for- 

 age if cut when in blossom.* 



In Australia it is considered to be a good fattening pasture grass. In the United 

 States, where it is known under the name of " Hungarian grass," it is much valued. 

 Prof. Phares quoted by Dr. Vasey remarks : — " If cut at the right stage the whole 

 plant is a safe and very valuable forage." 



S. vertieillata, Beauv. Syn. — Panicum verticillatum, Linn. ; Pen- 

 nisetum verticillatum, R. Br. Vern. — Punjab: Chirchira (Hissar), 

 barchitta and Jcutta (East Punjab) ; N.-W. Prov. : Barti (Dehra Dun), 

 bardanni (Royle) ; Bundelkhand : Chirchitta ; Rajputana : Kutta bari 

 (Ajmere), gddar puchha (Jeypur) ;.Cent. Prov.: Bandri( Seoni), chak- 

 Jcarnitta-gadi and chikna bara (Chanda), lapti (Balaghat), chilaya(Nag- 

 pur) ; Berar: Jaljatang-jhara ; Santal: Bir kauni; Bengal: Dora 

 byara (Roxb.) ; Teling: Chicklenta (Roxb.). 



A coarse rank annual easily distinguished from the other species of 

 Setaria by the downward direction of the teeth on the bristles. It is 

 common in shady places, and in rich ground all over the plains of 

 North- West India, and up to 6,000 feet on the Himalaya. Cattle eat 

 it when young, that is, before the flowering spikes appear. The grain is 

 eaten by poor people. 



7. CENCHRUS, Linn. A genus of about 12 species found in 

 tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The spikelets are sur- 

 rounded by an involucre as in Setaria, but the bristles or scales of which 

 it is composed are stiff and often connate at the base. The articula- 

 tion of the pedicel occurs below this involucre, which therefore does 

 not remain persistent as in Setaria. 



C. catharticus, Del. {Plate XL) Syn. — C. echinatus, Rich (non 



• It is figured in Church's M Food Grains of India," Figs. G and 7, and in Tart II. of " Field and 

 Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh." 



