( 18 ) 



Abundant in Bundelkhand and in the Central Provinces, by roadsides 

 and amongst bushes, where, like P. cenchroides, it assumes a climbing 

 habit. It has all the appearance of being a good fodder grass, though 

 no information has been received regarding it as such. 



P. imberbe, Edgew. {Plate L.) Fern.— Rajputana : Bajuria (Udai- 

 pur); Cent. Prov. : Chaj-jd gadi (Chanda). 



Spikes slender, and much narrower than in P. holcoides. Bristles of 

 involucre fewer, without wool, claret coloured. I have specimens from 

 Rajputana and from the Central Provinces, where it flourishes in the black 

 soil. I have received no special information as to its value for fodder. 



P. typhoideum, Rich. Syn. — Penicillaria spicata, Willd., Holcus 

 spicatus, Linn., Panicum spicatwn, Roxb. Vern. — General : Bdjra, bajri 

 and lahra; N.-W. Prov.: Bdjra tangunanwa (Azamgarh); Santal : 

 Lendha (Campbell); Bengal: Bujra and bujera (Roxb.); Teling : 

 Pedda-gantee (Roxb.); Madras i^Chambu. 



A tall erect grass, 5-6 feet high, with the spikelets crowded into a 

 compact cylindrical spike 6-9 inches long and | to 1 inch in diameter. 

 Each spikelet is surrounded by an involucre of bristles, of which the 

 inner ones are plumose hairy. 



This is the bulrush or spiked millet. It is largely cultivated in 

 Northern India, and the stalks and leaves are much used as fodder, 

 though inferior to juar. In the United States, where it is known under 

 many names, such as African cane, Egyptian millet, &c, it is exten- 

 sively grown as a fodder plant, and many cuttings are obtained during 

 the season. It is figured in Church's " Food Grains of India," also in 

 Part I. of " Field and Garden Crops of N.-W. Provinces and Oudh." 



TRIBE II. MAYDEiE. 



9. COIX, Linn. There are three or four described species, one of 

 which is a common water grass in India. It is easily recognised by its 

 numerous large roundish or pear-shaped pearly-white bead-like fruits. 

 The flowers are monoecious, the fertile ones being situated at the base of 

 the spikes. Male spikes drooping. The hard shell-like substance which 

 covers the grain consists of a sheathing bract. 



C. gigantea, Koen. Vern. — Berar : Kesai ; Bengal: Danga gurgur 

 (Roxb.). 



A tall erect water grass 8 to 15 feet high with large broad leaves. 

 Florets of male spikes in threes, the central one stalked. 



Plains of North- West India, in wet places. 



C. Lachryma, Linn* Vern.— Punjab : Sdnklu (Sabathu Hills); 



• See Plate A., Fig. 6, in present Volume, and Fig. 10 of Church's " Food Grains of India." 



