224 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Panicum semialatum, R Brown. 



Warmer regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. A superior tall 

 pasture grass, of easy dispersion in warm humid localities. 



Panicum spectabile, Nees.* 



The Coapim of Angola. From West Africa transferred to many 

 other tropical countries. A rather succulent, very fattening grass, 

 attaining a height of about 4 feet. It may be assumed that 

 hitherto about 300 well-defined species of Panicum are known, 

 chiefly tropical and sub-tropical, thus very few extending naturally 

 to Europe or the United States of North America, or Japan, or 

 the southern part of Australia. Though mostly from the hot 

 zones, these grasses endure in many instances a cooler clime, and 

 some of them would prove great acquisitions, particularly the 

 perennial species. Numerous good kinds occur in Queensland and 

 tf orth Australia spontaneously. Panicum is the genus richest in 

 species among grasses. 



Panicum striatum, Lamarck. (P. Gibbum, Elliot.) 



Southern North America, West India, and Guiana. A perrenial 

 grass for swampy localities, valuable for pastoral purposes, accord- 

 ing to C. Mohr, who mentions also P. anceps, L., and P. triaiis, 

 Elliot, as good fodder grasses. 



Panicum terniflorum, R. Brown. (Paspalum brevifolium, Fluegge.) 

 South Asia and East Australia. It has a running stem and forms 

 a good bottom as a pasture grass. (Bailey). 



Panicum turgidum, Forskael. 



Egypt, where this millet yields a bread grain. 



Panicum virgatum, Linne. 



North America, South Asia, and North Australia. A tall 

 perennial species, with a wide, nutricious panicle. The foliage good 

 for fodder when young. 



Papaver somniferum, Linne".* 



The Opium Poppy. Orient. The capsules of this tall annual, so 

 showy for its flowers, are used for medicinal purposes ; from the 

 minute but exceedingly numerous seeds, oil of a harmless and most 

 palatable kind can be pressed remuneratively ; but a still more 

 important use of the plant is that for the preparation of opium. 

 Both the black and pale seeded varieties can be used for the pro- 

 duction of opium. The return of poppy culture, whether for opium 

 or for oil, is within a few months. Milder and somewhat humid 

 open forest tracks proved most productive for obtaining opium from 



