p. SPICATUM. PEARL MILLET. 187 



ing. Leaves flat. Spikelets crowdeil in a .spike-like panicle, or 

 on spiko-likf braiu-he.s. 



Species alxiut 4(». mostly African, a few in tropical Asia and 

 America. 



P. spicatuiii; Pearly Indian, African, Cat-tails, or Horse 

 Millet. — This grass has been spoken of very liighly as a meadow 

 grass for the South, where it lias been grown for many years. It 

 needs an abundance of heat, rich soil, and makes a rank, rapid 

 growth six or eight feet high, each culm teminating in a stitV 

 spike an inch in diameter and six in twidve inches in length. 

 Branches come out in abundance near the ground, hence there 

 will be all states of advancement in the spikes of flowers. As 

 said of Panicuui Texanum (Texas Millett) and Sorghum liala- 

 jx'uxe (Johnson grass), it may be cut two or three times a year, 

 and yield an aljundant crop of rather coarse hay. It cures slowly. 

 In central Michigan, where it has been tried, the summers are 

 too cool for perfecting seed, and the crop does not become large 

 till *ate in the season. Indian corn is certainly preferable for 

 the North, and perhaps as suitable for the South. 



PAX KIM, L. 



Spikelets born on a jointed pedicel, spikelets racemed or pan- 

 icled, with one perfect terminal flower, and usually a second 

 which is male or neutral. Glumes usually 4, the lowest small or 

 minute, the second and third ustially sub-equal, membranous, 

 awnless or rarely awned, empty or the third including the rudi- 

 ment of a ])alea or a male flower: the terminal including a per- 

 fect flower, shorter and more obtuse than the others, carioceous, 

 as is also the included palea. Lodicules, x', fleshy. Stamens, 3. 

 Styles distinct or united at the base for a short distance, stigmas 

 feathery. Caryopsis included in the firm floral glume and palea, 

 free, .\nnuals or perennials of various habits. 



Fio. 83.— Peu»ii.sc<iu/i xpicatum (Pearl miUet); a, top of a plant with a spike reduoetl 

 one-half; /), a pair of spikelets on the short hairy pedicel, with bristly incolucre ; c, 

 view of one spikelet : d, another view.— (Scribner). 



