868 



GRASSES 



GRASSES 



Fig. 519. Sorghum 

 {Sorghum vulgare). 



Fig. 520. 

 Crab - grass ( Syntheriema 

 sanguinalis). A very 

 common weedy grass. 



Fig. 521. Water-grass (.Paspa- 

 lum dilatatum). 



Fig. 522. Para-grass 

 {Panieum Tnolle), 



with spikelets similar in structure to those of 

 Panicum but arranged in one-sided, more or less 

 digitate spikes. Considered by many as a section 

 (Digitaria) of Panicum. 



sanguinalis, Dnlac. Crab-grass. (Fig. 520.) A 

 well-known annual weed common in cultivated soil, 

 especially in the South. A native of the Old World. 

 The stems reach a height of three feet and are 

 branching. They are pros- 

 trate at the base and root 

 at the lower nodes. 



6. Paspalum (Greek name 

 for some grass, probably 

 millet). A genus of grasses 

 containing about one hun- 

 dred species, in the warmer 

 regions of both hemispheres. 

 Spikelets one-flowered, 

 ' plano-convex or flattened, 

 elliptical or circular in out- 

 line, sessile or short-pedi- 

 celed, arranged singly or in 

 pairs in a one-sided spike. 

 Lower glume small or obso- 

 lete, upper glume and sterile 

 lemma similar in length and 

 texture, membranaceous; 

 fertile lemma indurated. 

 Spikes single or in pairs at 

 the apex of the long pedun- 

 cle, or racemosely distrib- 

 uted along the upper part. 



dilatatum, Poir. Water- 

 grass. (Fig. 521.) A rather 

 coarse, leafy perennial, 

 growing in clumps two to 

 five feet high ; spikes two 

 to ten; spikelets hairy. 

 Produces many succulent 

 Fig. 523. Guinea-grass ^^^^1 leaves. A native of 

 (Pcmimm maximum). Brazil, from whence it was 



introduced into this country ; now well established 

 in the gulf states, where it is looked on as a native 

 grass. 



7. Panicum (Latin name for P. Italicum). A 

 large genus of annual or perennial grasses, con- 

 taining probably 500 or 600 species, mostly trop- 

 ical, represented in the United States by about 130 

 species, particularly abundant in the southeastern 

 states ; a few occur as far north as Canada. 

 Spikelets one-flowered, usually awnless, in one- 

 sided spikes or in more or les^ diffuse panicles ; 

 lower glume usually small ; upper glume and sterile 

 lemma membranaceous, the latter sometimes with 

 stamens ; the fertile lemma and palea indurated. 



molle, Sw. Para-grass. (Fig. 522.) A rather 

 coarse, reed-like perennial, four to six feet high, 

 with hairy nodes and narrow lax panicles, six to 

 eight inches long; producing 

 extensively creeping woody 

 runners which root at the 

 nodes. Native of South 

 America, where it is culti- 

 vated as a forage grass. It 

 is also cultivated in the West 

 Indies and Mexico and to a 

 limited extent in southern 

 Florida and Texas. 



maximum, Jacq. Guinea- 

 grass. (Fig. 523.) A coarse 

 perennial, growing in dense 

 tufts to the height of as 

 much as ten feet, and pro- 

 ducing creeping rootstocks. 

 Inflorescence a large, loose 

 panicle ; lemma transversely 

 wrinkled. Native of tropical 

 Africa, but extensively cul- 

 tivated in tropical America ^^^^^ -^ 

 as a forage plant. Somewhat ^ 

 grown in Florida, but will not ^^-^^^ ^f^f ^J?"' 



withstand frost. This should mm miliaceumh" 



