76 THE TRUE GRASSES. 



Sec. VI. Echinochloa (Beauv. as a geims). Spikelets 

 iu three- to four-ranked racemes, and these again in ra- 

 cemes or panicles ; second and third glumes more or 

 less awned. P. Crus-gatti L., without ligules and with 

 naked nodes, is cosmopolitan, also cultivated for fodder ; 

 one variety (P '. frumentaceum Roxb.) is cultivated in India 

 for its fruit. P. spectabile Nees (Fig. 27), with a more 

 distinct ligule and bristly-hairy nodes, is an extremely 

 productive fodder-grass for tropical countries, and large- 

 ly cultivated in Brazil. 



Sec. VII. Hymenachne (Beauv. as a genus). Spikelets 

 small, in spike-like panicles. Flowering gluine but 

 slightly indurated. 



Sec. VIII. Ptychophyllum. Spikelets in false spikes 

 which are arranged in panicles ; axis projecting beyond 

 the spikelets. Leaves plicate, elegant in appearance. 

 P. plicatum Lam., from the tropics of the Old World, 

 is a favorite ornamental grass in greenhouses. 



Sec. IX. Eupanicum. Spikelets all pedicellate, in 

 panicles, naked or with short hairs. P. Miliaceum L. 

 (Millet) (Fig. 28) has loose drooping panicles and ovate 

 spikelets ; first empty gluine half as long as the second, 

 flowering glume smooth and shining. Cultivated from 

 prehistoric times. Native country unknown, but prob- 

 ably the East Indies, where, and in China and Japan as 

 well, it is yet much cultivated. It is raised to a consid- 

 erable extent in South Russia and Roumania, but only 

 here and there in other parts of Europe. Several varie- 

 ties are distinguished by the color of the fruit and the 

 habit of the panicles. The fruit is mostly used for por- 

 ridge ("Brei"). P. altissimumJ&cq. (P. jtimentorumPers.}, 

 " Guinea grass," is 2-3 m. high, spikes loose, upright, 

 spikelets, lanceolate, fruiting glumes with fine transverse 

 wrinkles. Native of tropical Africa. Cultivated as a 

 fodder-grass, especially in America, on account of its 

 vigorous and rapid growth. The rhizome of P.junceum 

 Nees is used in the Argentine Republic as a substitute for 

 soap for washing woollen goods. To this section belong 

 Coleatcenia Griseb., Otachyrium Nees, Streptostachys Desv., 

 all more or less anomalous species. 



