( 49 ) 



Common in the plains, and at moderate elevations on the Himalaya. 

 It is said to be readily eaten by horses and cattle at Lahore ; and is 

 also favourably mentioned at Gujranwala and Shahpur. 



S. indicus, It. Br. % Syn. — S. tenacissimus, Beauv. ; Vilfa tenacissima, 

 Trim Vern. — Punjab : Khir (Gujranwala) ; Bdndelkhand : Ratua 

 (Banda); Cent. Prov. : GJiorla (Balaghat). 



An erect grass growing in tufts, 1-2 feet high, glabrous except along 

 the margin of the sheaths. Leaves mostly at the base of the stem, 

 narrow, upper with long sheaths. Spikelike panicle long and narrow, 

 continuous or interrupted. Spikelets numerous, crowded along the erect 

 imbricate or distant branches. 



Plains of North- West India, ascending to moderate elevations on the 

 Himalaya, and generally spread over the tropical and subtropical parts 

 of the world. In the Gujranwala district (Punjab) it is considered to 

 be a good fodder grass, especially for horses. At Balaghat (Central 

 Provinces) it is found on clay soils, and is used as fodder when young. 

 In Australia it is valued as an excellent pasture grass for alluvial soils ; 

 it stands drought well, and is greedily eaten by stock. 



In the United States, this grass, which is known there under the name of " Smut 

 grass," is of considerable value, for grazing purposes if frequently cut or grazed 

 down, but if allowed to remain untouched long, cattle and horses will not eat it unless 

 very hungry, as it becomes tough and unpalatable. Mr. J. N. Brashear of Fort 

 Gibson, Miss., quoted by Dr. Vasey, remarks in reference to this species — '• It is 

 common all over our pasture lands, and is very hardy, standing any sort of weather. 

 It grows well on almost any kind of land, but does best on rich moist bottoms, It is 

 not used to any considerable extent for hay, but it makes splendid feed if cut while 



young. It will yield about 1| tons per acre It makes a splendid pasture 



plant, and that is what we generally use it for. Stock are generally fond of it until 

 it goes to seed, and they sometimes use it when dry in winter." 



S. orientalis, Kunth. {Plate XXXII.)f Syn. — Vilfa orientalis, 

 Nees. Vern. — Punjab : Tandua (Kangra), Tcheo (Cent, and S. Punjab) ; 

 N.-W. Prov.: Usar-ki-ghds (General), kar-usara-ghas and kdlusra (Awa). 



Perennial. Stems extensively creeping and rooting at the nodes after 

 the manner of dub, but very different both in foliage and inflorescence. 

 Leaves crowded at the base of the stems, rather narrow, and convolute, 

 tapering to a fine point. Flowering stems long, wiry, and naked above. 

 Panicle loose pyramidal ; branches verticillate. Spikelets many, minute. 

 Outer glume hyaline, rounded at the apex, much smaller than the inner 

 and darker coloured glumes. 



This grass is strictly confined to saline soils, and is found on all the 



* See Plate P., Fig, 24, of present Volume. 



t Fig. 1 of Plate XXXII. is from Roxburgh's drawing of Agrostis tenacissima, Linn. - Spor. ten- 

 acissimus, Beauv. and Spor. indicus, R. Br. 



H 



