38 



in Brazil and other parts of tropical America. It is known as " Capira. 

 de Angola." According to Spruce it is also called " Canna Kana." The 

 stem is stout, 5 to 6 feet high, with the nodes softly bearded. The 

 leaves are 3 feet long and about an inch broad. The spikes are nu- 

 merous, with the spikelets arranged in 4-6 series. It belongs to the 

 same section of Panicum as the " Coekspur grass" (P. Crus-galli). By 

 some it is regarded as only a robust variety of that species. The Bra- 

 zilian specimens in the Kew Herbarium are, however, well marked. 

 This grass was introduced, according to Martius, Fl. Bras., ii., pt. 2, p. 

 143, from the south-west coast of Africa. It prefers moist situations, 

 and spreads rapidly everywhere. On the Niger, Barter described it as 

 an " aquatic grass 6 feet high." In East Africa Kirk speaks of it as 

 supplying " the richest fodder for cattle." It is very widely spread in 

 tropical America, in Cuba (Wright), Jamaica (MacFadyen), various 

 parts of Brazil, and south as far as Paraguay. It is a very desirable 

 grass to introduce into the East Indies. Seeds of " Capim de Angola" 

 sent to Kew by Glaziou {Kew Reports, 1880, p. 16) proved to be 

 " Para grass" (Panicum muticum, Forsk). 



15. Panicum texanum, Buckley. — " Blue-grass," "Colorado grass," 

 "Buffalo grass," or "Austin grass." A.n annual grass little known outside 

 Texas. The plant is furnished with an abundance of rather short, 

 broad leaves, and the stems, which are rather weak, are often produced 

 in considerable number from a single root It grows usually from 2 

 to 4 feet high. It prefers rich, alluvial soils, but stands drought well, 

 though on dry uplands the yield is much reduced. It is especially 

 valuable for hay. 



16. Paspalum conjugatum, Berg. — " Sour grass" of Jamaica. " Green 

 grass" of Singapore. A low grass rooting at the nodes, seldom more 

 than 1 to 2 feet high, leaves bright green, flat, andciliate. The flowers 

 arranged in two divergent spikes at the top of the stem. Widely dis- 

 tributed throughout tropical America and Africa. Introduced to Cey- 

 lon and East Indies. In Jamaica this grass forms the excellent "low- 

 bite" pastures in the warmer parts of the island. It spreads rapidly, 

 and covers the ground to the exclusion of everything else. In Ceylon 

 this grass was described by Dr. Thwaites as growing well in shade and 

 in places exposed to the sun, and it retained its fresh green appearance 

 even during the dry season. It is a somewhat coarse grass, but when 

 cut and slightly dried it has been found a very acceptable food to cattle 

 and horses. In Singapore this grass is equally valued, and it deserved 

 to be more widely known in the East. 



17. Paspalum distichum, Linn (P. vaginatum, Sw.) — " Silt grass" or 

 " Water couch." A coarse, somewhat tall grass, with creeping rhizomes 

 and convolute, rarely flat, leaves. The flowers are arranged in two 

 spikes. It is a common grass in pastures and wet places in tropical 

 America, and extending also into temperate countries. It is said to be 

 naturalised in south-western France. Probably indigenous to Aus- 

 tralia, where it endures some frost, and is temporarily inundated. Will 

 grow half emerging in shallow pools or wet meadows, and proves 

 quickly fattening to cattle. It keeps beautifully green throughout the 

 year, affords a sufficiently tender blade for feed, and is excellently 

 adapted to cover silt or bare slopes on banks of ponds or rivers (Mueller). 



