GRASSES 



GRASSES 



367 



1. Zea (Latin name for spelt). A genus of 

 grasses represented by a single American species 

 known only in cultivation. Flowers monoecious, the 

 staminate borne in large termi- 

 nal panicles (the tassel), and the 

 pistillate borne in the axils of 

 the leaves in several rows on a 

 thickened axis (the cob), and en- 

 closed in several large foliaceous 

 bracts, the whole constituting 

 the ear. The greatly elongated 

 ^SxWtMS \ i ^ty'®^ project from the tip of 

 the ear and form the silk. 



Mays, Linn. Indian Corn. 

 Maize. (Pig. 515.) A well-known, 

 large, annual grass with broad 

 leaves, extensively cultivated for 



Fig. 515. Indiancorn 



(Zea Mays). A, 

 Pistillate s pike- 

 let, opened, with 

 second glume cut 

 off to show lemma 

 (flowering glume), 

 palea and ovary; 

 B, staminate 

 spikelet. 



forage and grain. 

 The origin of the 

 cultivated varieties 

 of corn is uncertain 

 but must be Ameri- 

 can, and was prob- 

 ably in the tableland 

 of Mexico or Central 

 America where it 

 has been cultivated longest. It has been sug- 

 gested that it may have originated from Euchlmna 

 Mexieana, which it much resembles in habit, Ijut 

 differs from in having the several pistillate spikes 

 united in a compound inflorescence or ear. [See 

 Maize.'] 



2. Euchlaena (Greek, eu, well, and ehlaina, 

 mantle, alluding to the large glumes). A genus of 

 grasses represented by a single Mexican species. 

 Flowers monoecious, the staminate in panicled 

 racemes terminating the stalks, the pistillate in 

 jointed spikes fascicled in the leaf axils, each spike 

 more or less enveloped in foliaceous bracts. Zea 

 (Indian corn) differs from this chiefly in having 

 pistillate flowers arranged in several rows on a 

 single axis or " cob." The varieties are recognized 

 by some authors as species. 



Mexieana, Schrad. (Reana luxurians, Dur.). Teo- 

 sjnte. (Pig. 516.) A tall annual with long, broad 

 leaves, resembling Indian corn in habit, native of 

 Mexico and Central America, and cultivated in the 

 southern states for forage. [See Maize and Teosinte.'] 



3. Saccharum (Greek for sugar). A genus of 

 grasses containing about a dozen species, all but 

 three of which are confined to the tropics of the 

 Old Worid- Tall grasseo with usually large, termi- 



Teosinte iEuehtcena 

 Mexieana). 



nal, spreading panicles, the small spikelets sur- 

 rounded by long silky hairs. Spikelets usually in 

 pairs at the joints of the articulated rachis, one 

 sessile and the other pediceled, one-flowered, with 

 a sterile lemma below the fertile flower. 



officinarum, Linn. Sugar-cane.' (Fig. 517.) Stem 

 tall and stout, panicles ample, silky. Cultivated in 

 all tropical countries for the production of sugar. 

 Native country unknown, but probably southwestern 

 Asia. Propagated by cuttings of the stem, as the 

 flowers very rarely produce seed. [See Sugar-cane.] 

 4. Sorghum, A genus of about thirteen species 

 of grasses, including the cultivated sorghum and 

 allied forms, many of which are considered as dis- 

 tinct species by some authors. Spikelets in threes 

 in a panicle ; the central spikelet sessile, containing 

 a single perfect flower with a sterile lemma above 

 the glumes ; the lateral spikelets pediceled and 

 staminate or neuter. 



Halepense, Pers. (Andropogon Halepensis, Brot.). 

 Johnson - grass. (Fig. 518.) A coarse perennial 

 with extensively creeping rootstocks ; stems usually 

 3 to 5 feet high ; leaves one to two feet long, one- 

 half inch wide ; panicle open and spreading, six to 

 twelve inches long. Native of the warmer parts of 



the Old World but 

 well established in the 

 southern half of the 

 United States, where 

 it is cultivated for 

 forage. In many parts 

 of the South it has 

 become a pernicious 

 weed, especially in 

 the black lands of 

 Texas. This species is 

 thought to be the 



Fig. 517. Sugar-cane (Saccharum 

 oificinarwm) . 



original of the cultivated 

 sorghum. 



vulgare, Pers. (Andropo- 

 gon Sorghum, Brot.). Sor- 

 ghum. (Fig. 519.) Differs 

 from the preceding in its 

 larger size, annual roots 

 without rootstocks, and 

 usually large fruit and 

 seed. The panicle varies 

 much in shape in the different varieties. This is the 

 species usually referred to as "millet" in China. 

 [See Sorghum.] 



5. Syntherisma (Greek, crop-making). A genus 

 of grasses of about forty species, mostly tropical, 



Fig. 518. Johnson-giass 

 (Sorghum Halepense). 



