48 



SEEDS AXD PLANTS IMPORTED. 



49506 to 49521— Continued. 



49513. Brachiaria eruciformis (J. E. Smith) Griseb. Poaceje. Grass. 

 {Panicum isachne Roth.) 



A grass from the plains of India and from watery places at ;iltitudes 

 of 6,000 foet in Kashmir and the Punjab to Bengal and southward to 

 Ceylon. The slender much-branched stems are 1 to 2 feet high, with 

 bearded nodes and softly hairy or glabrous leaves. (Adapted from 

 Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 7, p. 28.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. .32429. 



49514. Cenchrus biflorus Roxb. Poacea^. Grass. 

 A grass with simple stems, 6 to 24 inches long, and linear-lanceolate 



leaves 3 to 10 inches long; native to the East Indies. (Adapted from 

 Cooke, Flora of Bombay, vol. 2, p. 917.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41894. 



49515. Chloris paraguaiensis Steud. Poaceae. Grass. 

 " A perennial grass native to India. Burma, and Ceylon, but now 



widespread in the Tropics. According to Duthie it is considered in 

 northern India a good fodder grass up to the time of flowering, after 

 which time cattle will not touch it. In Australia it is considered one 

 of the best grasses fo rpasturage and hay. An earlier test in this 

 country with S. P. I. No. 36255 did not indicate that it is of much 

 value." (G. V; Piper.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41897. 



49516. Coix lacryma-jobi L. Poacese. Job's-tears. 

 This plant, native to southern Asia, New Guinea, and Polynesia, is 



cultivated for food by the eastern hill tribes of India and supplies a 

 staple article of diet to the Tankhul Nagas of Manipur ; it is also grown 

 in Burma. The form cultivated for food has an easily breakable, 

 deeply furrowed shell, that of the wild plant being extremely hard and 

 shining. Seeds require long soaking before they are sown. The plant 

 thrives best under humid conditions. (Adapted from Mueller, Select 

 Extra-Tropical Plants, p. 135.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48012. 



49517. DiNEBRA arabica Jacq. Poacea^. Grass. 

 A laxly cespitose, somewhat rigid annual, branched from the base. 



with the culms sometimes prostrate, sometimes ascending or obliquely 

 erect, 1 to 18 inches long. Plentiful, but in few localities, on plains 

 flooded in the rainy season between Loanda and Quicuxe, or in damp 

 groves or in drying-up ponds. Native to tropical Africa and the East 

 Indies. (Adapted from Hiern, Catalogue of Welwitsch's African Plants, 

 vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 223.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41902. 



49518. IscHAEMUM ciLLVRE Retz. Poacea^, Grass. 

 " One form of this grass is harvested in and near Colombo, Island of 



Ceylon, and is extensively brought into town as fodder for cattle. It 

 is well known as the Rat-tena, literally ' red-grass,' of the Singhalese." 

 {Triinen, Eandhook of the Flora of Ceylon, vol. 5, p. 216.) 



A grass with stems 6 inches to 2 feet long, slender or sometimes stout, 

 erect or sometimes creeping, and with leaves 2 to 6 inches long. Native 

 to Bengal, the lower Himalayas, and Ceylon. (Adapted from Hooker, 

 Flora of British India, vol. 7, p. 133.) 



