( 23 ) 



which is quite exceptional in the tribe, viz. 7 the branches of the panicle 

 having no ioints. 



I. arundinacea, Cyrill. (Plate XV.)* Syn. — /. cylindrical Beauv. ; 

 I. Kcenigii, Beauv. ; Saccharum cylindricum, Lamk. ; Lagurus cylindri- 

 cus, Linn. Vern. — General: Siru and ulu ; Punjab: Dab (Simla 

 Hills), sil and sir (Stewart), Tcusa (E. Punjab) ; N.-W. Prov. : Usirh 

 ( Aligarh) ; Bengal : Ooloo (Roxb.). 



A perennial grass with extensively creeping roots. Stems erect and 

 stiff, 1-3 feet high ; nodes usually with a tuft of long hairs. Leaves 

 erect, narrow, the lower ones overtopping the stems, upper with very 

 short blades. Panicle spike-like, cylindrical, 3-4 inches long, covered 

 with silvery white hairs which completely conceal the glumes, but 

 through which the stamens and stigmas protrude. There are only two 

 stamens. 



Widely dispersed over Northern India both in the plains and on the 

 hills, more especially on clayey soils where water is near the surface. 

 It forms a very large portion of the pasturage in Bengal, where, as 

 Roxburgh observes, the fields are white with it when in flower after 

 the first rains in April and May. Cattle relish it when young. The 

 Telingas make use of it in their marriage ceremonies. In Australia 

 it is called " blady grass," and the young succulent foliage which springs 

 up after the occurrence of a fire is much relished by stock. I have ob- 

 served the same effect resulting from periodical fires on certain parts 

 of the Himalaya where this grass is plentiful. 



23. MISC ANTHUS, Anders. Contains 8 species, one of which, M.fuscus, 

 Anders., (Syn. — Saccharum fuscum, Roxb.; Eriochrysis fusca, Trin.) occurs in the 

 plains of Northern India. As in Jmperata the panicle branches are not jointed, but 

 it differs from that genus in having awns to the flowering glumes, and three stamens. 

 It has also a very different looking inflorescence, the spikelets being arranged in a 

 loose panicle. M. fuscus is a large rather handsome grass, and is usually found in 

 damp spots. It is chiefly used as a thatching material, and pens are said to be made 

 from its stems. 



24. SACCHARUM, Linn. This genus contains about 12 species, 

 including sugarcane. They are all tall grasses with large compound 

 panicles, the branches are articulate and clothed with silky hairs. The 

 spikelets are very small and the glumes are not awned. Belonging to 

 this genus we have two other very familiar species, viz., kans, and 

 munj grass. 



S. ciliare, Anders. (Plate XVI.)f Vern.— General : Sarr and 



• See also Plate B., Fig. 10, of present Volume. 



t Professor Hackel informs me that Roxburgh's name, S. Munja, under which this well known 

 graES has hitherto been identified in this country, is doubtful. 



