MILLET 



213 



the sides, and smooth. One layer of aleurone cells is present. 

 The kernel is easily separated, as a rule, from the lemma and 

 palet. 



Varieties. — ^There is considerable variation in length and 

 thickness of the inflorescence, color of inflorescence, and color 

 of grain. No varietal classirtcation 

 has been made. Pearl millet is 

 sometimes sold under the name of 

 " Pencilaria" (Penicillaria) or 

 Mand's Wonder Forage Plant. 

 There are many common names for 

 Pearl miflet, some of which are cat- 

 tail millet, African millet, Indian 

 millet, Egyptian miflet, horse millet, 

 and Japan millet. 



Origin. — The wild form from which 

 pearl millet has come is unknown. 

 It is probable that tropical Africa is 

 its native home. 



PANICUM MILIACEUM (Proso, Hog or 

 Broom-corn Millet) 



Fig. 80. — Leaf of proso 

 millet (Panicum milia- 

 ceum). X 2. 



Stem. — The plants are erect, some- 

 limes decumbent at the base, and 

 often reach a height of 3 to 2,}4 feet. 

 Branches frequently arise from the basal nodes, and they 

 may hear inflorescences. The culms are cylindrical, and 

 rough-hairy or smooth below the nodes. 



Leaf (Fig. 80). — The leaf sheaths are ()j)en. They are 

 co\'ered with very small pn^tuberances (papillte) from each 

 of which arises a stiff hair; at the sheath nodes the hairs are 

 shorter and not mounted upon papillae. The ligule is short, 

 thick, and fimbriated, and the auricles are lacking. The leaf 



