22 Paniceae 



Tribe 2. PANICEAE. MILLET TRIBE. 



Spikelets hermaphrodite, terete or flattened on the 

 back. Glumes 3-4, rarely 2, when 4 the third usually 

 includes a staminate flower in its axil ; flowering glume 

 firmer in texture than the outer ones. Axis of the in- 

 florescence not articulated, the rachilla being articulated 

 below the empty glumes and the spikelets falling off 

 singly from the pedicels. 



Spikelets not surrounded by a bristly or spiny involucre. 



Glumes 3; spikelets sessile or on short pedicels in unilateral spikes or 



racemes. 3. PASPALUM. 



Glumes 4, the first usually short, rarely wanting. 



Spikes digitate. 4. SYNTHERISMA. 



Spikes not digitate. 5. PANICUM. 



Spikelets surrounded by a bristly or spiny involucre. 

 Bristles slender, not falling with the spikelets. 



6. CHAETOCHLOA. 

 Bristles thickened below, spine-like, falling with the spikelets. 



7. CENCHRUS. 



3. PASPALUM L. DITCH-GRASS. 



Perennial grasses of various habit, with generally flat 

 leaves and 1-flowered spikelets borne in 24 rows on 1- 

 sided spikes, which are single, in pairs or panicled. 

 Spikelets oblong to orbicular, flat on the inner surface, 

 convex on the outer. Glumes 3, rarely 2 by the absence 

 of the outermost, the outer ones membranous, the inner 

 one indurated and subtending a palea and perfect flower. 

 Stamens 3. Styles distinct ; stigmas plumose. Ovary 

 oblong or ovoid, smooth. 



1. P. distichum L. Culms erect, 15-35 cm. high, creeping at 

 the base; sheaths smooth, sometimes ciliate on the margins or 

 sparsely pubescent; leaves flat, 4-10 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, 

 smooth; spikes 25-50 mm. long, in pairs, or occasionally with a 

 third, exserted; rachis flat, 1-2 mm. wide, smooth; spikelets 

 2.5-3 mm. long, elliptic, somewhat pubescent or glabrous, acute, 



