PLANTS OF NORTHERN OVJARAT. 
311 
passed over, since to the naked eye the two species are indistinguish- 
able. 
310. Axonopus Beauv. 
520. Axonopus cimicinus Beauv. F. B. I. VII, 61 ; FI. Bomb. II, 
925. 
Frequent. Flowers monsoon. 
311. Oplismenus Beauv. 
521. Oplismenus Burmanni Beauv. F. B. I. VII, 68 ; FI. Bomb. II, 
927. 
In the shade of trees, Sonasan. Not seen elsewhere. 
312. Panicum Linn. 
522. Panicum flavidum Retz. F. B. I. VII, 28 ; FI. Bomb. II, 929. 
Compounds, Ahmedabad. Common. Flowers monsoon 
523. Panicum punctatum Burm. F. B. I. VII, 29; FI. Bomb. II, 
929. 
Standing and running water. Common. 
524. Panicum Crus-galli Linn. F. B. I. VII, 30. 
P, stagninum Retz. FI. Bomb. II, 930. 
In the Bokh and other standing water, Prantij Taluka. Common. 
A tall long-awned grass ; ligule entirely absent. 
525. Panicum colonum Linn. F. B. I. VII, 32; FI. Bomb. II, 
931. 
Very common in low-lying, damp places. Thrives only in years of 
heavy rainfall. 
Vern. ‘ Samo/ 
This is the famous “samo” grass, which was so extensively eaten in the second 
year of the great famine, 1900-1901 all through Gujarat. It is to be noted 
that in that year the rains did not fail as in the first famine year, 1899-1900, but a 
copious fall was crowded into a short period in July-August. These climatic condi- 
tions, while almost useless to crops, suited the “samo'* very well. It is, therefore, not 
a true famine food. This year (1915) it failed entirely, and had the famine, which at 
one time seemed inevitable, turned into a reality, it would have afforded no assistance. 
The millet crop known locally as banti ” appears to he a cultivated variety of 
Panicum colonum Linn, and not of P. Crus-galli Linn, as often supposed. 
