Panicum 



GRAMINEAE Echinochloa 



3. Panicum miliaceum Linn. Broomcorn Millet ff (Chi; Panicled Millet) (Hitch.690). 

 Culms 60-120 cm. high; fls. VI; fr. VII. Temperate regions; locally in Ku. 

 Cultivated or escaped into waste places. 



4. Panicum psilopodium Trin. (H.F.7:46). Culms 20-60 cm. high; fls. VIII; fr. 

 IX. India to China and the Philippines; locally in Che., Ku. Moist roadsides or 



swampy places. 



5. Panicum bisulcatum Thunb. (Mak.F.835). Culms 20-120 cm. high; fls. IX; fr. 

 X; spikelets dark purple. China to India and Japan; locally in Che., Ki., Ku. 

 Moist ground or grassy fields. 



60. Oplismenus Beauv. flifM (So Jo Shu) 

 Usually creeping shade-loving annuals with flat thin blades and few to several 

 one-sided spike-like alternate racemes or clusters of spikelets along a main axis: 

 spikelets subsessile, terete or somewhat compressed laterally: glumes subequal, the 

 first long-awned, the second shortly awned or awnless; sterile lemma exceeding the 

 glumes and the fertile floret; fertile lemma chartaceous-indurate, smooth, usually 

 with a minute crest. About 10 species, in tropical and temperate regions; 4 in China. 

 (Greek: hoplismenos, armed, alluding to the awned spikelets.) 



1. Oplismenus undulatifolius (Ard.) Roem. & Schult. figg (So Jo; Small Grain) 

 (Mak.F.834). Culms 30-60 cm. high; fls. VIII; fr. IX. India to Japan and 

 Malaysia; locally in An., Che., Ki., Ku. Shady moist ground. 



61. Echinochloa Beauv. f|M ( Pai Shu ) 

 Annuals (ours) with rather compact panicles of several densely fid. racemes: 

 spikelets plano-convex, subsessile, crowded on one side of a continuous rachis: first 

 glume about half as long as the spikelet; second glume and sterile lemma equal, the 

 latter mucronate to long-awned; lemma chartaceous, acuminate, the margins inrolled 

 embracing a palea of like texture; sometimes the latter free at the apex. About 15 

 species, in tropical and subtropical regions; 3 species and 4 varieties in China. (Greek: 

 echinos, hedgehog, and chloa, grass, alluding to the echinate spikelets.) 



Key to the Species 



a. Spikelets 4-5 mm. long, 1.5-2.0 mm. wide 4. E. hispidula 



aa. Spikelets 2-3 mm. long, 1.0-1.5 mm. wide. 



b. Racemes rather distant, simple, 1-2 cm. long: spikelets awnless, 



or with a very short point 1 • E. colonum 



bb. Racemes more or less approximate, compound, usually more 

 than 2cm. long: spikelets awned or mucronate. 

 c. Spikelets usually awned; the awns variable in length, or 

 at least on a part of the spikelets 5-10 mm. long. 

 Panicle nodding: spikelets less strongly hispid, about 



2 mm. long 2 - &■ cruspavonis 



Panicle generally erect: spikelets strongly hispid, about 



3 mm. long 3. E. crusgalli 



cc. Spikelets usually awnless, or with the awn less than 



3 mm. long. 

 Panicle very dense; the racemes incurved at maturity. . 3c. E. crusgalli 



var. frumentac&a 

 Panicle looser; the racemes not incurved at maturity. 



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