GRASSES AND SEDGES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 3 



their fine leaves and stems also make elegant pot plants for 

 mingling with those of larger foliage. 



The larger Andropogons — A. citratus, A. nardus and A. 

 muricatus — are cultivated for their sweet scent; the first 

 producing the well known lemon grass oil, the second 

 citronella. Of other grasses of economic value, it is only neces- 

 sary to mention rice (Oryza sativa), sugar-cane (Saccharum 

 officinarum), millet (Sorgum vulgare and S. saccharatum), and 

 the numerous species of bamboos cultivated here. 



The plumed seeds of Imperata arundinacea are used by 

 the Malays to stuff pillows ; of the stem of Scirpus grossus 

 and Lepironia mucronata they make mats, and walking 

 sticks are made from Thysanolxna in Sungei Ujong. A 

 kind of beer was at one time made from the rhizomes of 

 Lalang, which contain a good deal of sugar. The manufac- 

 ture was not remunerative and was soon given up. 



The grasses and sedges which form the greater part of the 

 turf here are Andropogon acicularis, Cynodon dactylon, 

 Ischoemum ciliare, besides which, in some places Fimbristylis 

 monophylla, F. tenera and F. communis form a considerable 

 portion. I have seen a lawn almost entirely composed of 

 Zoysia pungens, a soft inland form. It makes a very deep 

 soft turf, but is unsuitable for tennis lawns, except in dry 

 places, where it becomes short and compact. For sandy places 

 Andropogon aciculare and Cynodon dactylon are best. Where 

 the soil is better the Ischoemums form a better class of turf. 

 The best native fodder grass here is unquestionably I schcemum 

 muticum ; I. ciliare and /. timorense are also very good. 

 Panicum jumentorum, the Guinea grass, has been introduced 

 as a fodder plant, but must be used with caution, as horses 

 have been killed by overfeeding with it. 



Distribution. — A large number of the glumaceous plants 

 of the Peninsula are very widely distributed throughout the 

 Indo-Malayan region. A few are cosmopolitan, occurring in 

 all parts of the world that are warm enough for them ; such 

 are Cyperus polystachyus, C. rotundus, C. distans, and Fim- 

 bristylis communis among Cyperacess ; Cynodon dactylon, 

 Digitaria sanguinale, Eleusine indica among grasses. A 



