DESCRIPTIONS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 59 



Species thirteen, A. arundinaceus Scop. (A. Halapensis 

 Sibth.) (Fig. 18) with a compound panicle, 2-5 spikelets 

 in each raceme, and fringed lodicules. Scattered in 

 many varieties over the torrid and warm temperate 

 countries. This is probably the original form of the 

 cultivated Sorghum or Black Millet races {A. Sorghum 

 Brot.). In these the fruit and spikelets are usually 

 larger and rounder, and the rachis is not articulate. 

 The most important are variety saccharatus (Sorghum 

 saccharatum Pers.), Sugar Sorghum, panicles looser with 

 drooping branches and red-brown spikelets ; var. technicus, 

 like the preceding, but the branches very long, exceed- 

 ing the shortened main axis; var. vulgaris (S. vvlgare 

 Pers.), with more compact panicles and light-colored 

 obovate spikelets ; var. niger, like the preceding, but 

 with black spikelets; var. cernuus (S. cernuum Host.), 

 like vulgaris, but the culm is bent or recurved just below 

 the panicle ; var. Durra, with more condensed panicles 

 and deltoid spikelets, etc. The culture of Sorghum 

 probably had its origin in Africa, where " Durra," as it 

 is called there, is now cultivated over the entire con- 

 tinent, and has become the most important cereal. 

 The natives also chew the stem, which contains sugar. 

 It is also considerably cultivated in India and China. 

 In Europe it is raised less for bread than for mechanical 

 purposes (especially the variety technicus) ; the panicles 

 are made into the so-called " rice brooms," and into 

 brushes, etc. Italy, South France, and North America 

 furnish the raw material in great quantity. In Ger- 

 many, Sorghum, like Maize, is only occasionally raised 

 for green fodder. In North America sugar is also made 

 from the culms, and for this purpose the variety called 

 Sugar Sorghum (S. saccharatum) is used less than cer- 

 tain kinds of the variety vulgaris. In South Europe 

 these industries may develop in the future. From the 

 fruit the Caffirs make " Tialva" and the negroes "Merisa" 

 alcoholic drinks. The fruiting glumes contain useful 

 coloring matters. 



Sub-genus VIII. Vetiveria i Virey as a genus). Ra- 



