2gQ GRAMINE^. Panicum. 



§ 3. Sjnkelets crowded in 3 or 4 rotes or irregularly on the one-sided spike-like 

 brandies of the panicle. — Eciiinochloa. 



7. P. Crus-galli, \a\\\\. (Barn-yard Grass.) Annual, Avitli cuhns from a 

 few incht's to -i k-et liigli, stout, branching from the base : leaves lanceolate, \ inch 

 wide or more, rougli on the margins and, with the sheaths, usually smooth other- 

 wise : panicle mostly dense and pyramidal, often secund, rarely with distant and 

 somewhat appressed branches ; spikelets 1 to 2 lines long, often clustered and 

 densely crowded upon the numerous one-sided branches, which usually bear coarse 

 hairs, especially at base : glumes rough upon the nerves, ovate, abruptly pointed : 

 lower palet of sterile floret awl-pointed or short-awned, but mostly with a rougli awn 

 an inch long or more ; perfect floret pointless or with a short point. — Trin. 1. c, 

 t. 161. Echinochloa Crus-galli, Beauv. ; Keichenb. 1. c, t. 191. 



Common in rich grounds. A native of Europe and possibly indigenous to some parts of this 

 continent ; widely introduced as a weed of cultivation in all wann countries. Exceedingly varia- 

 ble, and as many of the forms have received names the synonyms are many. In the Bad Lands 

 of Nebraska perfect plants are found only two inches high, while in rich spots five feet is not an 

 unusual height. There are all degrees, from perfectly smooth sheaths and leaves to those with 

 long hairs, and a very rough pubescence is not rare. The panicles and sometimes the sheaths are 

 often tinged with purple, but are sometimes so pale that one form has been called yar. (jlauciim. 

 From the large pyramidal compound panicle there is every grade down to a nearly simple one, 

 with scarcely branched spikes erect, appressed and distant upon the rhachis, in which condition it 

 is liable to be mistaken for F. colmium. This, which was formerly regarded as a worthless weed, 

 has been, within a few years, cultivated in Illinois and some neighboring States as a hay-crop. 



8. P. COlonum, Linn. Culms 6 inches to 2 feet high, annual, branching or 

 simple, usually decumbent and rooting at base : leaves linear and, with the sheaths, 

 glabrous : panicle of three to twelve or more short (| to 1 inch) perfectly simple dis- 

 tant usually erect spikes, which are mostly bearded at base ; spikelets in two to foiir 

 rows, a line long or less, awnless : glumes and lower palets nearly smooth or hispid 

 on the nerves, pointed but not awned : fertile flower barely pointed. — Trin. 1. c, 

 t. 160. F. Walteri, Ell. Sketch, i. 115 ; Chapm. Fl. 557. 



San Diego County ; Arizona and Northern Mexico ; also in the Southern Atlantic States. Com- 

 mon in the warm countries of the Old World ; also in Australia. This much resembles some of 

 the small and smooth forms of P. Crus-galli, but in this the spikes or branches of the slender 

 panicle are entirely simple and unbranched, while in the other they are more or less compound, 

 though the subdivisions are sometimes obscure and small. Perfect floret much less pomted than 

 in the preceding. 



P. Californicum, Benth. Bot. Sulph. 55, was collected in Lower California ; it probably does 

 not extend into the State, as no .specimens according with the description occur m the various 

 collections. 



P. STKUMOSUM, Presl, Eel. H«nk. i. 303, is accredited to the State. Trinius (Panicere, 255) 

 suggests that it is very near P. gibhum, Ell. It is difficult to identify Presl's species from his 

 descriptions. 



3. SETARIA., Beauv. Bristly Fox-Tail Grass. 



Panicle dense, cylindrical, spike-like, sometimes interrupted below. Spikelets 

 as in Panicum, awnless, with the short peduncles produced beyond them into one 

 or several awn-like bristles which are at one side, not forming a complete involucre. 



A genus of annuals, of about 20 species, natives of tropical countries, and introduced in most 

 temperate climates. By some botanists it is place.l ns a s.-t ion of Panicmn,ivom which it differs 

 in its spike-like inflorescence and the bristles subte.Hlin- 1 1,. s,,.k..lets S lUdim in some of its 

 varieties is cultivated as " Millet," and its var. Gcrnun,;,;,, known as Hungaiian Grass, is a usetul 

 forage jjlant, often sown to supplement a short hay-crop. 



1. S. glauca, Beauv. Culm erect, 1 to 2 feet high : spike 1 to 4 inches long, 

 cylindrical, compact and usually tawny yellow : bristles in clusters of 6 to 1 1, much 

 exceeding the spikelets, barbed with numerous minute teeth which point upwards : 

 perfect floret with numerous transverse wrinkles, especially when mature. — Beichejib. 

 Icon. Fl. Germ. i. 68, t. 188. Panicum glancum, Linn. ; Trin. Sp. Gram. ii. t. 19o. 



