18 



A.-Panicaceae. 



Tribe i. 



Series i. 1. Paspalum. 5. Setaria. 



2. Eriochloa. 7. Pennisetum. 



8. Panicum. 8. Cenchrus. 



4. Oplismenus. 9. Chamaer aphis. 



1. PASPALUM. 



Spikelets one-flowered, not awned, not callous at the base, in one 

 or two rows along one side of slender spikes,, either forming the 

 branches of a simple panicle or rarely solitary. 



Glumes three, two onter ones empty, usually membranous and 

 equal, or nearly so, the third flowering, of a firmer texture. 



Palea within the flowering glume smaller and more involute. 



Styles distinct, rather long. 



Grain enclosed in a hardened palea and flowering. glume, and free 

 from them. 



Spikes two to five, usually distant. Spikelets orbicular or broadly 



ovate, obtuse, about 1 line long \.P.scrobiculatum. 



Spikes two, close together, or scarcely distant. Spikelets ovate- 

 oblong, acute, or acuminate, 1^ to 2 lines long .., ... 2. P. distichum. 



Spikes two or three, digitate or nearly so. Spikelets ovate, 



about f line long ... ... ... ... ... ... 3. P. brcvifolium. 



Spikes rather numerous, filiform. Spikelets narrow ovate, about 



f line long 4. P. minutiflorum. 



1. Paspalum scrobiculatum, Linn. 



Botanical name. Paspalum, Greek paspalos, one of the millets, 

 (paspale is a Greek word signifying " finest meal ") ; scrobiculatum , 

 Latin scrobiculus, a little ditch or furrow, referring to the outer glumes, 

 which are scrobiculate or furrowed. 



Synonym. P. orbiculare, Forst. (referring to the orbicular 

 spikelets) . 



Vernacular names. Sometimes called "Ditch Millet," from the 

 situation in which it grows. Called " Cow Grass " in Queensland, 

 according to O'Shanesy. The "Koda Millet" and " Hureek " of 

 India are varieties of this grass. 



