N. O. GRAMINEiE. 
1377 
Spikes 2-6; radiating from the top of a slender peduncle, 1-2 in. 
long, green or purplish ; rhachis slender, compressed or angled, 
scaberulous. Spikelets ys-t'o in. long ; rhachilla produced, very 
slender, equalling j the length of the spikelet. Invol -glumes 
lanceolate, acute to subulato-mucronulate, the lower Js-yg in. 
long, the upper slightly longer ; floral glume obliquely oblong 
to semiovate, about j? in. long Anthers oblong, jV in- long. 
Grain sj in. long. 
\ 
Uses : — By Sanskrit writers the fresh juice of the leaves 
is considered astringent, and is used as a snuff in epistaxis. 
The bruised grass is a popular application to bleeding wounds 
(U. 0. Dutt). In the Concan the grass is prescribed in compound 
decoctions with more active drugs for the cure of dysentery, 
menorrhagia, &c., (Dymock). A white variety, which appears 
to be only a diseased state of the plant, is used medicinally by 
the native practitioners. It is acidulous and is used to check 
vomiting in bilious complaints (Sakharam Arjun). 
A preparation of the plant is applied by the Santals in a 
parasitic disease, which attacks the spaces between the toes 
(Revd. A. Campbell). The expressed juice is astringent and is 
used as an application to fresh cuts and wounds. It is also 
diuretic and is used in cases of dropsy and anasarca, also 
as an astringent in cases of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery 
(Dr. Thornton). The juice of the green grass is useful in 
catarrhal ophthalmia, is astri ngen t, used also with much benefit 
in haetnaturesis (Dr. Houston). Antiperiodic and used as an 
application in scabies (Dr. McConaghey). The decoction of 
the roots is used in Mysore for secondary syphilis (Dr. North). 
“ A cold infusion often stops bleeding from piles. I generally 
give it with milk ” (Dr. R. L. Dutt). The roots crushed and 
mixed with curds are used in cases of chronic gleet, dose, two 
fluid drams (Dr. McCloghry). — Watt’s Dictionary. 
The expressed juice is used in hysteria, epilepsy, insanity, 
(B. D. B.) 
173 
