104 I'AMCACK.E. 



irlabrnus or finely pnlK'sceiit. !i()-l-20 cm. Iiiirli. Loaf-bliKk's flat, 

 iiciimiiiiitc, sciihrous iil>()ve, l!^-35 I'lii. loiiii', 1-1. "» inni. wido. 

 I'iiiiicU' simple, tlio lower branehcs 8-10 em. lon<r. tlio.se above 

 shorter, raeliis and branelies finely )inl»esei>nt. 15-'.'5 em. lonnf. 

 S|)il\elets 1 -flowered, pulu'sei'iit. ovato-lanceoiate, S-10 mm. lonir, 

 iiielndinfr the frnidually ta))eriii_ir awns, first lu'lume wider and lonpcr 

 than the second, botli o-nerved ; fertile floret roiigli, elliptical, 

 shortly mueronafe. li.f) mm. lony. 

 Fonnd in Mexico. 



•-m;. (s). panicum l. Sp. ri. 55 (ir5:{). 



/>i;/{f(tn'(t Heist, ex .\dans. Kiini. 2 : oS. ood (1T('>3). 



Er/iiiiui'/il(n( Mi'anv. Ai^fost. i^'.l t. 11 (isi*,*). 



Ililinvnurlnic Heanv. A<rrost. 4S. /. Id. f. S (181*2). 



rrorhlaa Heanv. Aj^rost. h'i. /. 11. f. 1 (181-.>). 



7'rir/tiir/iiH' Xees, Atjrost. Hras. 85 (182!)). 



linichidria (iriseb. I.edeb. V\. IJoss. 4 : 4(10 (1853). 



In'DKX Kkwkxsis contains the names of 'ib other synonym.s. 



Spikelots with 1 terminal perfect flc.werand often a staminate or 

 neuter flower below it, rarely awned, variously arranjred alonjj: the. 

 branches of a jianiele. (ilumes usually 4. the outer one smalleiit. 

 .sometimes minute or rarely obsolete, the second and third very 

 variable in relative jtroportions, tlie third often with a palea with 

 or without :> stamens in its axil, fourth or floral ulume smaller, or 

 as loiiij as the third, of a firmer texture, enclosinii' a palea and per- 

 fect flower. Styles distinct or very shortly united at the base, 

 (irain enclosed, but not adherent. 



The jrenus is a very lar<je one. in many resjiects polymorphous. 

 ('ontainin<r 250-'280 sjiecies, thou^irli nearly 800 supposed species 

 have been published. It is not separated by any universal charac- 

 fere from l^aspahim. Ko less th m ei<rhteen ijenera have at differ- 

 ent times been separated from 't, but are now reunited, some of 

 them as sections. 



Their limits are far from being absolutely definite. Plants of 

 this genus are well represented in the warmer regions of the earth. 

 Some of our worst weeds belong here, wliile P. miliaceum {Indian 

 Millet), P. miliare (Lilfle Millet), P. fmmentaeeum {Somoa 



