( 26 ) 



lands adjoining the rivers, where it affords most valuable pasturage for 

 buffaloes. The zamindars of those parts say that if there were no 

 ;^*\X:dhh there would be no buffaloes, and they consider it too valuable to 

 be used for thatching. In other parts of the country, where better fod- 

 der grasses are obtainable, this grass is very generally used as a thatch- 

 ing material. 



Three other species of Saccharum are occasionally met with in Northern India, 

 viz. : — 



S. Narenga, Benth. Syn.—Eriochrysis Narenga, Nees. 

 ^ S. procerum, Roxb. Vern. — Bengal. : Teng (Roxb.). 



Roxburgh says that it is by far the most beautiful of the genus. It comes nearest 

 in appearance to S. officinarum, but is a taller and much more elegant plant. 



S. semidecumbens, Roxb. Vern. — Bengal : Khori (Watt.), khurree 

 (Roxb.). Lower portion of culms procumbent. 



25. ERIANTHUS, Mich. Of the 12 described species only one is found 

 in the plains of Northern India. Botanically it stands between Saccharum and 

 Pollinia, having the inflorescence of the former, and the awned glumes of the latter. 



E. Kavennae, Beauv* Syn. — Saccharum Ravennce, Linn.; Andropogon Ra- 

 venna, Linn, j Ripidium Ravennce, Trin. Vern.— N.-W. Prov.: JDhaulsar and 

 dholu. 



Plains of N.-W. India. A tall grass much resembling a Saccharum in general 

 appearance. 



26. SPODIOPOGON, Trin. Species 3, inhabiting temperate Asia and 

 India. This genus differs from Pollinia as regards its inflorescence just as Chryso- 

 pogon does from Andropogon. The short branches of the panicle bear three spikelets, 

 one sessile between two stalked ones, with occasionally a pair of spikelets below the 

 three terminal ones ; but the branches never form the regular spikes of Pollinia. 



S. albidus, Benth. Syn. — Andropogon aloidus, W all. Vern. — Cent. Peov. : 

 Kanka gadi (Chanda). 



Stems 1-3 feet, smooth, shining, and tinged with red. Leaves distinctly petioled, 

 broad, flat, dark green, with a few long silky hairs ; midrib prominent, nearly white ; 

 apex attenuated into a slender awn-like point ; sheaths inflated, edges membranous 

 and with many bulbous-based hairs at the upper part. Panicles narrow ; clusters 

 crowded, straw-coloured, and thickly clothed with silky pubescence. 



I have specimens from the Central Provinces and from Bundelkhand, also some 



ft 



iaieiy gainerea Dy myseir on Mount adu, in itajputana. 



27. POLLINIA, Trin. About 25 species have been described. 

 Those which occur in Northern India are mostly Himalayan. Of the 

 three species found in the plains, the bhabar grass (P. eriopoda) is the 

 most important, though of little value as fodder. Some of the species 

 very much resemble Andropogon in habit, but the stalked spikelets are 

 fertile, which is not the case in Andropogon. 



P. argentea, Trin. {Plate LIII.) Syn.— P. tristachya, Thw. ; Erian- 

 thus tristachyius, Trin. ; E. Roxburghii, F. Muell. Vern. — Rajputana : 



• See also Plate B., Fig. 11, of present Volume. 



