A. (iAMMlK. 



five on each side, wealcer nerves numerous, indistinct, fiaij 

 with a long sheath, blade shorter than or exceeding the 

 inflorescence. Peduncle long and slender. Spike curved and 

 nodding, up to 8^ inches long, and l^^ inch broad, inckiding 

 the very short bristles (which, however, in poor examples are 

 often longer, while they are altogether wanting in the finest 

 variety), lower branches only sHghtly scjittered, upper densely 

 aggregated, all distinctly arranged in a spiral manner with 

 convex surfaces, rachis creamy white, densely white [)ilose. 

 Spikelels subsecund on the branches, j^ellowish green, in clustei's 

 of 40 to 50, b)-i'itle.s few, white, only attaining |- incli in length, 

 pointing upwards, spikelets ovoid, slightly constricted near base. 

 (rlume I equal to ^ III, ovate, 3 nerved below apex ; Glume II 

 shorter than IV, elliptic, 5-7-nerved ; Glume III almost equal 

 to II, paleate, 5-7-nerved ; Grlume IV ^ja^e yellow, protruding 

 when ripe. 



'Z (b). Setaria italica, Beduv. car. nov. barbata. 



This dift'ers from the t3'pe described above in the following 

 points : — 



Spikes up to 9 inches long but usually much shorter, the two 

 lowest branches often remote, the upper more densely aggregated 

 and scarcely showing the spiral arrangement. Spikelets distinctly 

 secund on the branches, in clusters of 12 to 16, bristles 3 to 9 

 at the base of each spikelet, -{\ inch long, often altogether absent 

 in the uppermost spikelets. Spikelets ^ inch long, constricted 

 near the base. Glume IV pale white. 



2 (c). Seiaria italica, Beauv. var. nov. purpurea. 



This differs as follows from the above named varieties : — 



Internodes yello\v, suffused with l)rown, bases of leaves 

 distinctly brown. Leaves dark green. Sjjikes up to 9 inches long, 

 the smaller sometimes erect, the larger invariably curved and 

 drooping, loiver branches slightly scattered, central loosely, and 

 uppermost densely aggregated, rachis suff"used with brown purple, 

 densely setose with white hairs, secondarj' spikes dense, with 

 about 20 spikelets in each, bristles usually single, almost ^ inch 

 long, brown, spikelets as above. Glumes I, II and III suffused 



