CLIII. GRAMINEiE. 188a 



12. SETARIA, Beauv. 

 (Referring to the bristly panicle.) 

 Spikelefcs with 1 terminal hermaphrodite flower and sometimes a second male 

 one below it, crowded in a cylindrical dense or rarely interruped spikelike panicle, 

 not awned but surrounded by numerous awnlike barren branches, persistent on 

 the main rhachis, the spikelets sessile near the base of the branches and falling 

 away from them. Glumes 4, the outer one small, the 2nd usually shorter than 

 the 3rd. A palea and sometimes 3 stamens in the axil of the 8rd. Terminal or 

 fruiting glume of a firmer consistence, with a perfect flower. Styles distinct. 

 Grain enclosed in the hardened glume and palea, but free from them. 



The genus is generally spread over the wai mer and temperate regions of the globe. 

 Panicle dense, inclined or nodding, compound ; the 1st glume sub- 

 globose nearly smooth 1. S. •Ualica. 



Fruiting glume transversely rugose. Awnlifce panicle-branches scabrous, 

 with erect teeth. 

 Panicle cylindrical, simple, 1 to IJin. long, the spikelets solitary at the 



base of the awn-like branches 2. S. rilavcu. 



Panicle dense or interrupted, 3 to Sin. long, the spikelets clustered near 



the base of the awn-like branches ^ 3. S. macrosUichya... 



Fruiting glume smooth. Spikelets more or less clustered. 

 Awn-like panicle-branches scabrous with erect teeth . . .... 4. S. riridis. 



1. S. ''''italica (Italian), Beauv. Ayrost. 51. Annual. Stems 2 to 5ffc. usually 

 branched, tufted, rooting towards the base. Leaves often long, margins retrorsely 

 hispid, the sheath smooth, bearded at the mouth. Panicle often large and very 

 dense, lobed, with minute spreading barbs, the bristles not numerous, 1st glume 

 oblong or subglobose, nearly smooth. 



Hab.: Has escaped from cultivation. Grown as a fodder in most countries, known in 

 Queensland as Panioum. Supposed to belong to China and Japan. 



2. S. glauca (grey). Beam.; Kunth, Enum. i. 149; Benth. Fl. Amtr. vii. - 

 492. An erect annual, of a pale-green, 1 to 2£t. high. Leaves flat, with 

 scabrous edges and often eilifite' with a few long hairs. Spikelike panicle simple, 

 cylindrical, 1 to 1-fin. long, the spikelets solitary at the base of numerous awnlike 

 branches, m9.ny of which are barren and all scabrous with minute teeth directed 

 upwards. Spikelets ovoid, about 1| line long. Outer glume very small, the 

 2nd not quite so long as the 3rd. A palea and very rarely stamens in the 3rd. 

 Fruiting glume more or less gibbous, marked with prominent transverse wrinkles. 

 — Eeiohb. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 47 ; Turn. Ag. Gaz. N.S.W. ii. PI. xlii. ; Pamcum.- 

 fflaucum, Linn.; Trin. Spec. Gram. t. 195; Pennhctum glaucum, R. Br. Prod. 

 195 ; F. v. M, Fragm. viii. 110. 



Hah,: In tropical Queensland this is represented by a form which seldom exceeds a foot iij>. 

 height, but in southern Queensland it forms b, rich fodder grass of two to three feet, and 

 bears an abundance of seed, even though closely fed. One or other of these forms are met with- 

 in most parts of Queensl^n^l. 



A common weed in the Old World and some parts ol America. 



3. S> macrostachya (spikes long), B; B. and K. Xov. Gun. ot Sp. i. 110 ; -. 

 Benth. Fl. Anstr. vii. 493. Much taller and stouter than S, f/lanca. Leaves long, . 

 flat, often above ^in. broad, the ligula short, ciliate, otherwise quite glabrous in; 

 the typical form. Spikelike panicle 3 to Sin. long, compound, usually very com- 

 pact and cylindrical or the lower branches longer. Spikelets numerous on the 

 lower branches, few on the upper ones, in dense clusters more or less interspersed - 

 with awnlike barren branches, ovoid, acute, fully 1^ line long, glabrous. Outer: 

 glume about i the length of the spikelet, the 2nd shorter than the Brd but 

 variable in proportion, all membranous with prominent nerves. Fruiting glume 

 often oblique or gibbous, always marked with prominent transverse wrinkles as in 



