S. ITALICA, KUNTH, HUNGARIAN GRASS. 175 



or narrow panicle. (Jlumes 4, the three outer nienibranous, the 

 lower very small, the seconil shorter than the third, both ('iiii)ty, 

 the third usually longer, empty or rarely inclosing a palea or 

 male flower, or sterile; the terminal inclosing the i)erfect flower, 

 shorter, obtuse, iiulurated as well as the inclosed palea, shining 

 or transversely wrinkled, or simply dotted in lines. Stamens 3. 

 Styles distinct from the base, elongated, stigmas feathery. Cary- 

 opsis included in the hard floral glume and palca, free. Annual 

 grasses, ofteji tall with flat leaves. Panicle terminal. Species 

 about ten, found in tropical and temperate clinnites. 



8. Italiea Kiiutli, Hiiiigariau or Beiii^al Orass, (wernian, 

 Italian, Mammoth, Golden ^r Cat-tail Millet. — A stout, quick- 

 growing grass, 2-3^ ft. hi., with numerous broad, ilat leaves and 

 a nodding panicle 4-9 in. long by f-1} in. in diameter, liri.stles 

 two or three in a cluster. 



The term " ^fillet " is also applied to various other species of 

 plants, and is about as indefinite as the name "blue joint" or 

 *' bunch grass" or "pigweed." 



The variety of millet which is principally grown as a hay crop 

 in America was distributed through the United States Patent 

 Office in 1854 under the name of Paiiinnti Germnninon. There 

 are many races, which, like those of Indian corn, are mixed 

 up in hopeless confusion. It is much cultivated in the West and 

 Southwest. 



The millets are among the most ancient of cultivated grains, 

 as is evinced by the variability in the species as well as by ancient 

 mention, and their wide distribution. It is said that a third i)art 

 of the inhabitants of the globe feed upon the different millets, 

 especially in Africa, Turkey, Persia, India, and Japan. It is 

 mentioned by Pliny as one of the cereals of his time. Sefaria 

 Italiea has an Asiatic origin and a high antiquity, as is evinced 



Fio. 79.— Setaria Italiea. (Ilimi^urian OrasK) ; (t, i)(>rti(in of iiltint; /», spikelet with 

 the iieili(!el of a serond ; f, another view; c, fertile tloret showing palea; (I, dorsal 

 view of Hume.— ((t Redrawn from Trinius. h, c, and d, Scribner). 



