180 



Andropogoneae 



Sorghum 



o ~To 

 Map 335 



Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. 



4. Andropogon virginicus L. (Fernald. A review of Andropogon vir- 

 ginicus and Andropogon glomeratus. Rhodora 37: 139-143. 1935.) Broom- 

 sedge. Map 334. This species is restricted essentially to the southern half 

 of the state where it is local to infrequent or common in slightly acid soil. 

 It prefers moist soil but thrives also in dry situations. It is commonly 

 found in old, worn out fields, hayfields, and pastures. 



Mass., N. Y., Ind., and Kans., southw. to Fla. and Tex. ; Mex. 



147-134A. SORGHUM Pers. 



Perennial, with long, creeping rootstocks; spikelets disarticulating from the pedicel at 



maturity 1. S. halepense. 



Annual; spikelets not disarticulating from the pedicel at maturity. 

 Spikelets not opening and exposing the grain at maturity. 



Culms usually more than 6 mm in diameter; sheaths longer than the internodes; 



blades mostly more than 20 mm wide 2. S. vulgare var. Dmmmondii. 



Culms usually less than 6 mm in diameter; sheaths shorter than the internodes; 



blades mostly less than 20 mm wide. (See no. 2.). .S. vulgare var. sudanense. 



Spikelets opening, exposing the grain at maturity. (See no. 2.) S. vulgare. 



1. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Johnson Grass. Map 335. Infre- 

 quent but spreading in the southwestern part of the state. It is found 

 mostly along roadsides and railroads and sometimes in cultivated fields, 

 these usually contiguous to streams or railroads. Several years ago I found 

 it in large colonies in the cornfields of the Wabash Bottoms and landown- 

 ers were not aware of its weedy nature. While this grass has forage crop 

 value, it should be exterminated, because it is difficult to eradicate and car- 

 ries the possibility of seeding adjacent areas where it is not desired. 



Native of the Mediterranean region, and found in the tropical and 

 warmer regions of both hemispheres. Mass. to Iowa, southw. to Fla. and 

 Tex., and westw. to Calif. 



2. Sorghum vulgare var. Drummondii (Nees) Hitchc. Chicken 

 Corn. This grass was first reported from Posey and Vanderburgh 

 Counties in 1923. I have seen it as a common weed in the cornfields in 



