ANNUAL FORAGE GRASSES 



125 



grass that has little to recommend it 

 for cultivation in this country. It is 

 entirely unsuited for growing in re- 

 gions deficient in moisture. Under ir- 

 rigation, there are other forage plants 

 that are more satisfactory. 



Description. — An erect smooth suc- 

 culent annual, 2 to 4 feet tall, with 

 flat blades, and a narrow rather com- 

 pact panicle or head made up of nu- 

 merous short spikes about an inch 

 long, these ascending or appressed. 

 Spikelets crowded, ovate, flattish on 

 one side, somewhat pointed but not 

 awned, about 3 mm. (1/8 inch) long, 

 covered with short, stiff hairs. First 

 glume 1/3 the length of the spikelet. 

 The spikes are somewhat incurved. 

 The whole inflorescence usually 3 or 4 

 inches long. 



Botanical and Common Names. — 

 Echinochloa crusgalli edulis Hitchc. 

 It is also known as Panicum frumen- 

 taceum Roxb. It is a variety of Echi- 

 nochloa crusgalli, the common barnyard 

 grass , a weed of moist places and cul- 

 tivated soil, which differs in having 

 awned spikelets, the awn often several 

 times as long as the spikelet. Japan- 

 ese barnyard millet has been adver- 

 tised by seedsmen as billion dollar 

 grass. 



29. Japanese Barn- 

 yard Millet. A 

 seed head. 



