Edible Products. 



488 



Dec. 1906. 



Mr. Church shows that by the judicious combination of some of the pulses 

 with the cereals and with the addition of a small quantity of oil, the necessary pro- 

 portions of albuminoids and starch can be supplied. 



Karal— Amu, S., Paspalum Scrobiculatum — As far as I can ascertain there 

 are three varieties of Amu recognised by the Sinhalese, namely Karal, Badu, and 

 Math Amu. Karal, lam told is the equivalent of "Spike"; Amu=inebriating 

 Badu and Math Amu I have not succeeded in growing. B.idu=belly, alluding to the 

 spikes ripening their grain within the leaf and sheaths. This grain is boiled with 

 coconut milk and is considered a luxury by the Sinhalese. Math=giddiness ; the 

 grain is boiled with double the ordinary amount of water, which is thrown away as 

 being poisonous ; eaten by servants in Sinhalese households. 



Karal Amu, S., Paspalum Scrobiculatum,— Stems 2 feet with me, probably 

 more in good soil, tufted, erect, leafy from the base ; leaf long, narrow, flat, acuminate, 

 margins scaberulous ; sheath compressed, loose, mouth hairy, ligule short, membra- 

 nous; peduncles of inflorescence long, slender, slightly channelled; spikes 2—3, 

 probably more, l£— 3 inches long or more ; spikelets biseriate, 2 mm. or a fraction 

 more, nearly obicular. shortly pedicelled, rhachis narrow, herbaceous ; Glumes I and 

 II 3—5 veined var. b ? Kunth, I.e. vide note Trimen's Flora, Vol. V. p. 122. 



In plants grown from seeds sent to me from Hettimulla, Kegalle, labelled 

 " Badu Amu," but which do not differ from plants raised from seed from UJa-Nuwara 

 and Hatella, said to be " Karal Amu," Glume II is wrinkled or pitted towards the 

 margins. Used for making coconut milk rice, considered a luxury and generally eaten 

 after a meal of rice. 



Waraku, T. Paspalum Scrobieidatum, var a ? — This variety, though it differ- 

 materially from the preceding one, is known as " Kai^al Amu " by the Sinhalese, both 

 varieties being grown together. Stem 12 inches, tufted, erect, rather stout, leafy 

 from the base up, leaves 9—11 inches x h inch or more, bifarious, erect, flat, acute, 

 margins scaberulous ; sheaths compressed, loose, mouth hairy, ligule short, membra- 

 nous, both leaves and sheath tinged with purple. Spikes 2—3, Distinct, spreading, 

 2— 2i inches long, exserted from the sheath on a stout channelled peduncle, peduncla 

 herbaceous, broad, ventrally concave, winged, narrowed towards the ciliated tip ; 

 rhachis of spikelets broad, dorsally crinkled, spikelets 2 seriate, on short, stout, 

 curved, puberulous pedicels, 3 mm. broad— Glumes 3, I and II equal, orbicular, 

 membranous ; Gl. I, 8—9 veined, II 5—8 veined, III coriacious, striolate, margins 

 ncurved, thickened at the edges that overlap the striolate palea. 



{TO be continued.) 



