104 PANICACE.E. 



glabrous or finely pnljescent, 90-120 cm. high. Leaf-blades flat, 

 acuminate, scabrous above, 12-35 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide. 

 Panicle simple, the lower branches 8-10 cm. long, those above 

 shorter, rachis and branches finely pubescent, 15-25 cm. long. 

 Spikelets 1-flowered, pubescent, ovate-lanceolate, 8-10 mm. long, 

 including the gradually tajiering awns, first glume wider and longer 

 than the second, both 5-nerved ; fertile floret rough, elliptical, 

 shortly mucronate, 3.5 mm. long. 



Found in Mexico. 



2G. (8). Panicum L. Sp. PI. 55 (1753). 



Digitaria Heist, ex Adans. Fam. 2 : 38, 550 (1763). 



Ecliinocliloa Beauv. Agrost. 53. i. 11 (1812). 



Hymenachne Beauv. Agrost. 48. t. 10, f. 8 (1812). 



UrocMoa Beauv. Agrost. 52. f. 11. f. 1 (1812). 



Trichachne Nees, Agrost. Bras. 85 (1829). 



Brachiaria Griseb. Ledeb. Fl. Eoss. 4 : 469 (1853). 



Index Kewexsis contains the names of 25 other synonyms. 



Spikelets with 1 terminal perfect flower and often a staminate or 

 neuter flower below it, rarely awned, variously arranged along the 

 branches of a panicle. Glumes usually 4, the outer one smallest, 

 sometimes minute or rarely olisolete, the second and third very 

 variable in relative proportions, the third often with a palea witli 

 or without 3 stamens in its axil, fourth or floral glume smaller, or 

 as long as the third, of a firmer texture, enclosing a palea and per- 

 fect flower. Styles distinct or very shortly united at the base. 

 Grain enclosed, but not adherent. 



The genus is a very large one, in many respects polymorphous, 

 -containing 250-280 species, though nearly 800 supposed species 

 have been published. It is not separated by any universal charac- 

 ters from Paspahim. Ko less than eighteen genera have at differ- 

 ent times been separated from :t, but are now reunited, some of 

 them as sections. 



Their limits are far from being absolutely definite. Plants of 

 tliis genus are well represented in the Avarmer regions of the earth. 

 Some of our worst weeds belong here, while P. miliaceum (Indian 

 Millet), P. miliare {Little Millet), P. frumentaceum {Sonwa 



