(GRASS FAMILY.) 581 



from the base (l-4 high); leaves lanceolate (^' or more -wade), rough-mar- 

 gined, otherwise with the sheaths smooth; spikes alternate (l'-3' long), crowd- 

 ed in a dense panicle ; glumes ovate, abruptly pointed ; lower palea of the neu- 

 tral flower bearing a rough awn of variable length. Varies greatly; 

 sometimes awnless or nearly so ; sometimes long-awned, especially so in van 

 HISPIDUM (P. hispidum, Muhl., P. longisetum, Toir.), a very large and coarse 

 form of the species, which has the sheaths of the leaves very bristly. Moist 

 and chiefly manured soil : the variety in ditches, usually near salt water ; possi- 

 bly indigenous. Aug. -Oct. (Nat. from Eu. ?) 



GO. SET ARIA, Beauv. BRISTLY FOXTAIL-GRASS. 



Spikclets altogether as in Panicum proper, and awnless, but with the short 

 peduncles produced beyond them into solitary or clustered bristles resembling 

 awns (not forming a real involucre). Inflorescence a dense spiked panicle, or 

 apparently a cylindrical spike. Annuals, in cultivated grounds, with linear or 

 lanceolate flat leaves : properly to be regarded as a subgenus of Panicum. 

 (Name from seta, a bristle.) 



* Bristles single or in pairs, roughened or barbed downwards. % 



1. S. VERTICILL\TA, Bcauv. Spike cylindrical (2' -3' long, pale green), 

 somewhat interrupted, composed of apparently whorled short clusters ; bristles 

 short, adhesive. (Panicum verticillatum, L.) Near dwellings: rare north- 

 ward. (Adv. from Eu.) 



* * Bristles in clusters, roughened or barbed upwards. 



2. S. GLAtiCA, Beauv. (FOXTAIL.) Spike cylindrical, very dense, tawny yd- 

 low (2' -4' long) ; bristles 6-11 in a cluster, much longer than the spikelets ; per- 

 fect flower transversely wrinkled. Very common in stubble, barn-yards, &c. 

 (Adv. from Eu.) 



3. S. vfRTDis, Beauv. (GREEN FOXTAIL. BOTTLE-GRASS.) Spike nearly 

 cylindrical, more or less compound, green ; bristles few in a cluster, longer than the 

 epikclets ; perfect flower striate lengthwise and dotted. Common in cultivated 

 grounds. (Adv. from Eu.) 



4. S. ITALICA, Kunth. Spike compound, interrupted at the base, thick, nod- 

 ding (6' -9' long, yellowish or publish) ; bristles 2 or 3 in a cluster, either much 

 longer or else shorter than the spikelets. S. Germanica, Beauv. is a variety. 

 Sometimes cultivated under the name of MILLET, or BENGAL GRASS : rarely 

 spontaneous. (Adv. from Eu.) 



61. CENCHRUS, L. HEDGEHOG- or BUR-GRASS. 



Spikelets as in Panicum, awnless, but enclosed 1 to 5 together in a globular 

 and bristly or spiny involucre, which becomes coriaceous and forms a decid- 

 uous hard and rigid bur : the involucres sessile in a terminal spike. Styles 

 united below. (An ancient Greek name of Setaria Italica, transferred, for no 

 evident reason, to this genus.) 



1. C. tribllloides, L. Culms branched at the base, ascending (l-2 

 long) ; leaves flat; spike oblong, composed of 8-20 spherical heads; involucre 

 prickly all over with spreading and downwardly barbed short spines, more or 

 49* 



