SOUTHERN GRASSES 255 



Indies. It was known in Jamaica before 1756 as guinea- 

 grass ; in Guadeloupe before 1786 ; in Dominica before 

 1791, and in Cuba in 1804. According to Trimen it was 

 introduced into Jamaica in 1774 from west tropical Africa 

 by John Ellis as food for some birds he had imported. 

 From Jamaica it was introduced into India in 1808. It is 

 now quite generally grown in the tropics and cut green as 

 feed for horses and cattle. In Cuba large areas are now 

 covered with a spontaneous growth of the grass. It was 

 introduced into the United States as early as 1813 when it 

 was grown at Natchez, Mississippi. It is well adapted 

 only to Florida and a narrow strip along the Gulf Coast to 

 southern Texas. In Arizona and California it does fairly 

 well under irrigation, but has not come into agricultural 

 use in these states. 



Guinea-grass is a long-lived perennial, with short creep- 

 ing rootstocks, single plants often making tufts 4 feet 

 in diameter. The culms are about as large as a lead pencil 

 and in the ordinary form strictly erect, reaching a height 

 of 6 to 10 feet. The leaves are 1 to 3 feet long, flat and 

 about one-fourth to one and one-half inches wide. The 

 panicles are erect, pyramidal, loose and open, a foot 

 or more long. The spikelets shed promptly as they 

 mature. 



Guinea-grass from different sources shows considerable 

 variation. One form from South Africa is smaller, 4 to 6 

 feet tall, and the culms are decumbent at the base, and 

 rooting at the nodes. Another, too late even to bloom at 

 the Florida Experiment Station, has leaves as broad as 

 those of corn. 



In the tropics guinea-grass is used wholly for soiling, 

 and on uplands no other grass will yield as well. In 

 Florida and along the Gulf Coast, it may be cut from 4 to 6 



