Sorghum Tribe 21 



2. A. saccharoides Swartz. Culms erect, 4-10 dm. high, 

 simple or branched, glabrous, the nodes pubescent with silky 

 hairs ; sheaths smooth ; leaves 8-16 cm. long, 4-6 mm. broad, 

 long-acuminate, scabrous, glaucous ; ligule hairy ; spikes 25-35 

 mm. long, in an exserted panicle, 5-10 cm. long ; first glume of 

 sessile spikelet ovate-lanceolate, 4 mm. long, about equaling the 

 terminal hairs of the rachis joints, pubescent at base with long 

 silky hairs, scabrous above ; awn 10-15 mm. long, spiral, bent, 

 scabrous ; pedicelled spikelet reduced to a single narrow scale. 



Occasional on stony south slopes in the chaparral belt. Sepulveda Can- 

 yon and Cahuenga Pass, Santa Monica Mountains; Tia Juana, San Diego 

 County; Gaviota, Santa Barbara County. 



2. SORGHUM Pers. 



Annual or perennial grasses with long broad flat leaves 

 and terminal ample panicles. Spikelets in pairs at the 

 nodes, or in 3's at the ends of the branches, 1 sessile and 

 perfect, the lateral pedicelled, staminate or empty. Sessile 

 spikelet consisting of 4 glumes, the outer indurated and 

 shining, obscurely nerved, the inner hyaline, the fourth 

 awned and subtending a small palea and perfect flower, 

 or palea wanting. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Grain 

 free. 



1. S. Halepense (L.) Pers. (Johnson-grass.) Culms erect, 

 9-15 dm. high, simple or sometimes much branched, smooth; 

 sheaths smooth; leaves 2 dm. long or more, 7-25 mm. wide, 

 long-acuminate ; panicle open, 15-45 cm. long ; branches gener- 

 ally whorled, spreading, naked towards the base; outer glumes 

 of sessile spikelet 4-6 mm. long, ovatedanceolate, usually purplish, 

 pubescent with long, appressed hairs ; awn 8-16 mm. long, moreor 

 less bent, sometimes wanting; pedicelled spikelets of 4 glumes, 

 the outer 2 about 6 mm. long, membranous, the inner 2 shorter 

 and narrower, sometimes with staminate flowers. 



Becoming a troublesome grass in moist places along roadsides and in 

 fields. Especially common about Santa Ana. 



