HITCHCOCK AND CHASE — NORTH AMERICAN PANICUM. 



69 



The only other specimen examined is also from the vicinity of Culiacan, Sinaloa; 

 Copradia, Brandegee 4 in 1904. 



30. Panicum miliaceum L. 



Panicum miliaceum L. Sp. PI. 58. 1753. "Habitat in India" is the only citation 

 given. We have not seen the type, which may not be in existence. 



Milium panicum Mill. Gard. Diet. no. 1. 1759. Based on Panicum miliaceum L. 



Milium esculentum Moench, Meth. PI. 203. 1794. Based on Panicum miliaceum L. 



Panicum milium Pers. Syn. PL 1: 83. 1805. Based on P. miliaceum L. the original 

 description of which is copied but very slightly augmented. 



Panicum asperrimum Fisch.; Jacq. Eclog. Gram. 46. pi. 31. 1815-1820. The 

 description is based on a specimen grown in the garden of the University at Vienna 

 from seed received from Count Razoumovsky of Gorenki [near Moscow]. This name 

 was earlier listed by Fischer a without description. We have not seen the type, but 

 Jacquin's description and plate identify the species. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Plants erect or decumbent at base, usually branching from the basal nodes, 20 cm. 

 to as much as 1 meter high; culms stout, hispid below the pubescent nodes or glab- 

 rous; sheaths loose, sometimes 

 longer than the internodes, 

 papillose-hispid; blades dry- 

 ing yellowish green, more or 

 less pilose on both surfaces, or 

 glabrate, as much as 30 cm. 

 long and 2 cm. wide, rounded 

 at base, gradually narrowed 

 to the apex; panicles usually 

 more or less included at base, 

 10 to 30 cm. long, more or less 

 nodding, usually rather com- 

 pact, the numerous branches 

 narrowly ascending, very 

 scabrous, spikelet-bearing to- 

 ward the summit ; spikelets 4 . 5 

 to 5 mm. long, ovate, acumi- 

 nate, strongly many-nerved; 

 first glume half the length 9f the spikelet or more, acuminate; second glume and 

 sterile lemma subequal, a small palea in the sterile floret; fruit 3 mm. long, 2 mm. 

 wide, elliptic, stramineous to reddish brown. 



Fig. 54.— P. miliaceum. From Griffith's no. 0490, East Himalaya. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Waste places, introduced from the Old World. Cultivated under the name of 

 broomcorn millet or hog millet. Scattered specimens, introduced or escaped from 

 cultivation, are found in all the cooler parts of the United States, especially eastward. 

 Cultivated specimens may be larger than indicated in the above description, while in 

 dry soil depauperate specimens occur. 

 Maine: Orono, Harvey in 1897. 

 • Vermont: Burlington, Brainerd in 1895 (Gray Herb.). 

 Massachusetts: Essex County, Conant in 1880. 



a Cat. Hort. Gorenk. ed. 2. 3. 1812. 



