OF SCARCITY IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 
«93 
CYPERACEJE. 
Cyperus bulbOS, Vahl. Theg (Ahmedabad). Bid (Viramgam) 
It grows in a river near Viramgam. Its bulbs are dried 
and powdered and used with Jowarit Bajri or wheat flour. 
It is not very nutritious, therefore it is mixed with the above 
flours. It grows wild and its effects are that people who use 
it as food become night blind.^* 
Scripus p’ossus, Linn. 'Slzx, Kysoor ; Kachera, Bulbs used. (J. 
C. Lisboa.) It is also in general use during ordinary times, 
being sold in markets. 
Scirpus maritimus, Linn. Chid (Wagra, Broach). Dih 
(Ahmedabad). The seeds are used and the plant produces 
them abundantly. 
ORAMINEJE. 
Paspalum scrobieulatum, Linn. Kodra (Walha Parincha Road 
Poona). Grains used. This plant is also largely cultivated 
but it possesses poisonous properties which have to be 
eliminated before the grain can be safely eaten. 
Panicum flavidum, Retz. Gorin (Wagra, Broach). Grains 
used. 
Panicum €rus Gain, Linn. God\ Tan (Kalwan Taluka, Nasik). 
Ziro (Bardoli, Surat). The seed is threshed out and used 
for the preparation of bread as in the common food grains. 
In these days the grass is dried on tire, or the grass with 
the seed is turned on fire for some time and then the seed 
taken off and eaten as such, not turned into bread.’^ 
Panicum colonum, Linn. Tan (Shirpur, Khandesh). Zart 
(Bardoli, Surat). Samo (Anklesvar, Broach). Sama (Matar, 
Kaira). Grows in abundance on uncultivated lands. The 
plants bear grains in the monsoon season. When the plants 
are dried, the grains being ripe, people generally thresh them 
or gather them when they fall down of their own accord, 
cleanse them and grind them before using in bread or broth.’* 
This grass proved to be the most valuable resource of the 
starving people during the late famine in Gujarat. It pre- 
fers to grow on lands which are apt to become swamp 
in the rains, and it is common on the verges of sluggis 
streams. 
Panicnm prostratom, Lamk, Pavdu (Wagra, Broach). 
PaliatU) (Ahmedabad). Grains used. 
