( 51 ) 



A common weed in cultivated ground. It is an ornamental grass, but of little 

 value for fodder. 



P. fugax, Necs. 



The spike-like panicles are larger and more distinctly branched than those of P. 

 monspeliensis. The much shorter awns and larger spikelets give it also a very dif- 

 ferent aspect. trv 



Plains and h ills of Northern India, usually on wet ground. It occurs also in Aus- 

 tralia. It is of little value for fodder. 



TRIBE IX. AVENEiE. 



51. A VENA, Linn. Species about 40, chiefly confined to the tem- 

 perate regions of the old world. The spikelets are 3-5 flowered and 

 arranged in a loose panicle. The flowering glume is rounded on the 

 back, 2-cleft at the summit, and many-nerved ; from its back arises a 

 long twisted and bent awn. The ripe grain which is usually adherent to 

 the pale is furrowed in front. The_re are no indigenous species to be 

 found in the plains of Northern India. The two which will be presently \ 

 mentioned are the cultivated oat, and the other is an introduced weed, ^ 

 which occasionally makes its appearance in wheat and barley fields, and 

 has been supposed by some to be a degenerate form of oats. 



A. fatua, Linn. Vern. — Punjab: Gandal, ganer, and jet (Stewart), 

 ganhcl (Cent. Punjab), gozang (Chenab), jandel (Cent, and S,-W. Punjab). 



Flowering glumes of a firm texture at the base, and covered outside 

 with long brown hairs. 



I have received no particular information as to its value for fodder in 

 this country. Dr. Vasey in his " Report on the Agricultural Grasses 

 of the United States " mentions — 



" that some people have thought this species to be the original of the cultivated oats, 

 but that the alleged facts are not sufficiently established. It differs from it in having 

 more florets in the spikelets, in the long brown hairs which cover the flowering 

 glumes, in the constant presence of the long twisted awn, and in the smaller size and 

 lighter weight of the grain. It is a great injury to any grain field, in which it may 

 be introduced, but for the purpose of fodder, of which it makes a good quality, it has 

 been much employed in California." 



A. sativa, Linn.* (Oats). Vern. — Jai ovjawi. 



Cultivated in N.-W. India principally as green fodder for horses. It 

 is largely grown for this purpose at the Saharanpur and Hapur Stud 

 depots, and at the Hissar Cattle Farm, and is also stacked. For descrip- 

 tion and figure, see " Field and Garden Crops, N.-W. Provinces and 

 Oudh," Part I. 



52. TRISTACHYA, Nees. There are 8 species, American and tropical 

 African, and one (T. Stocksii) mentioned by Boissier as occurring in Sindh and 

 Beluchistan. Spikelets in threes at the ends of the panicle branches, 2-nowered. 



• See Plate E., Fig. 26, of present Volume. 



