POACEAE. 



11 



at the end of the branches, one sessile and perfect, the rest pedicellate and 

 staminate, dorsally compressed, pubescent or glabrous. Sessile spikelets with 

 the outer 2 scales indurated, the third and fourth hyaline, the latter awned or 

 awnless. Pedicellate spikelets with the outer 2 scales firm-membranous, or 

 rarely reduced to 1 or 2 scales and sterile. Lodicules ciliate. Stamens 3. 

 Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. [Greek, taken from Pliny.] About 10 

 species of wide distribution. Type species: Holcus Sorghum L. 



1. Holcus halep&nsis L. JOHN- 

 SON GRASS. (Fig. 7.) Smooth and 

 glabrous. Culms up to 6 tall, from 

 a long rootstock; leaf-blades - 

 long or less, i'-l-J' wide; panicle 

 often 2 long, oblong to oval, its 

 branches ascending, the longer ones 

 up to 6' long; sessile spikelet about 

 2" long, ovate, the outer scales 

 densely appressed-pubescent with silky 

 hairs and indurated at maturity, the 

 first scale 3-toothed at the apex, the 

 readily deciduous awn of the fourth 

 scale about V long, geniculate, spiral 

 below, the column much exserted; 

 pedicellate spikelet about 3" long, 

 lanceolate, the 2 outer scales sparingly 

 pubescent. [Sorghum halepense Pers.] 



Spontaneous after cultivation, and 

 occasional in waste grounds. Native of 

 southern Europe and Asia. Introduced 

 by cultivation into the United States 

 and West Indies. Flowers In summer. 



Holcus S6rghum L., GUINEA CORN, is occasionally grown for fodder, 

 and has been observed in waste grounds. It is a tall grass, sometimes 12 high, 

 with leaves l'-2' wide and large, often dense panicles, its grain a valuable food. 

 [Sorghum saccharattim Moench; S. vulgare Pers.] 



3. PASPALUM L. 



Perennial grasses, various in habit, with generally flat leaves and 1-flowered 

 spikelets, borne singly or in pairs in 2 rows on 1-sided spike-like racemes, which 

 are single, in pairs or panicled. Spikelets oblong to orbicular, flat on the outer 

 surface, convex on the inner. Scales 3, the outer ones membranous, the inner 

 one indurated and subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles 

 separate. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid or oblong, free. [An ancient Greek 

 name for some grass, used by Hippocrates.] About 160 species, of wide dis- 

 tribution in tropical and temperate regions, most abundant in America. Type 

 species : Panicum dissectum L. 



Racemes several or solitary. 



Spikelets glabrous. 1. P. ciliatifolium. 



Spikelets pubescent. 



Spikelets about 1" long, finely pubescent. 



Leaves, '-'&" wide, glabrous. 2. P. caespitosum. 



Leaves 3'"-6" wide, ciliate. 3. P. Chapmani. 



Spikelets nearly 2" long, long-hairy. 4. P. dilatatum. 



