from the East Coast of Demerara. 401 



Panicum colonum, Linn. 



Var. y. polysetum, N. ab E. in Herb. Lindl. rhachibus basi et ad 

 originem spicularum setosis : spicis 9 — 15 approximates, mediis 

 subinde geminatis. — Differt haec forma a P . frumentaceo , Hottb., 

 foliis angustioribus, spiculis minoribus, glumis flosculisque minus 

 cuspidatis ejusdemque omnino structura ac in P. colono, N. ab E. 

 in lit. 



Rice-grass ; Black-seed grass ; Purple Panic-grass (in Barbados) . 



The Rice or Black- seed grass is considered the best for fodder, 

 and grows most luxuriantly in new soils. The true P. colonum 

 of Linnaeus, or Oplismenus colonus of Humb. and Kunth, is more 

 frequent in the West India islands than in the coast regions of 

 Guiana. Von Martius found it in the Brazilian provinces of 

 Bahia and Piauhy, Sellow in Monte Video, and Kunth observes 

 that it likewise occurs in the East Indies, in the Marianas, Luco- 

 nia and Guaham. I have gathered it in Tortola (Sage Mountain), 

 Porto Rico (Sierra de Luguillo), Barbados and Grenada ; Sloane 

 pictures it from Jamaica (Hist. Jam. i. t. 64. f. 3), and Jacquin 

 in his Eclogse Gram, in vol. iv. t. 32. 



In consequence of its superiority as a fodder-grass, it ought to 

 be cultivated for agricultural purposes like the guinea-grass, 

 which no doubt would greatly improve its quality. 



Panicum tenuiculmum, Meyer, /. c. 58; N. ab E. in /. c. ii. 186; 



Kunth, /. c. 95 ; Trin. Ic. 18. t. 215. 

 P. agrostidiforme, Raddi, /. c. 48. 



A kind of White-seed grass. 



An annual plant with creeping roots and slender upright culms. 

 The specimens which I collected near Georgetown in Demerara 

 are about twelve inches high ; it differs however much in stature, 

 according to the soil in which it grows, whether dry or humid. 

 It is much esteemed as a fodder-grass. 



Von Martius found it on the Rio Negro in Bahia, Nees von 

 Esenbeck saw it in Willdenow's herbarium from Jamaica, and 

 Meyer describes it among his Essequibo plants. 



Panicum maximum, Jacq. ; N. ab E. in I. c. ii. 166 ; Swartz, Fl. Occid. 



i. 70; Jacq. Ic. Rar. i. 1. 13. 

 Panicum jumcntorum, Pers. Syn. i. 83; Kunth, /. c. i. 101. 

 Panicum poly gamum, Swartz, Prodr. Fl. Ind. Occid. p. 24. 

 Holcus assurgens, &c, Browne, Jam. p. 366. no. 2. 



Guinea-grass. 



This useful grass was introduced by accident into Jamaica from 

 Africa. The Chief Justice of that island received about 1744 a 

 present of some African birds and a parcel of seeds from their 



