CHAPTER XXIII 



THE SORGHUM PLANT 



Sorghum (Andropogon Sorghum var. vulgaris, Hackel, 

 A. Sorghum, Brot., Sorghum vulgare, Pers.) is generally 

 conceded to have been originally derived from the well- 

 known wild species, Andropogon halepensis, Brot. 



The wild species is found abundantly in all tropical 

 and subtropical parts of the Old World and has been in- 

 troduced into the Western Hemisphere, where it is now 

 well distributed in both North and South America between 

 the parallels of latitude thirty degrees north and south of 

 the equator. 



209. Andropogon halepensis is generally known in the 

 United States as Johnson-grass. Johnson-grass is a coarse- 

 growing perennial, with strong underground rootstocks by 

 means of which it spreads rapidly and is very persistent, 

 being regarded generally as a bad weed. 



Sorghum differs from the wild form in that it is larger- 

 growing, that it produces more seed, that certain forms 

 have abundant sweet juice, and that no form is perennial 

 or has persistent rootstocks. However, there are forms of 

 Andropogon halepensis that are annual and without the 

 persistent rootstocks, an example being the variety known 

 as "Soudan grass." The wild form is somewhat vari- 

 able, having certain types paralleling in their variations 

 the cultivated forms. 



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