90 TRIAXDRIA DIGYNIA 



Root perennial. Culm about 4 feet high, smooth, terete below, semi-terete, or 

 Concave on one side, above, often branching; nodes smooth. Leaves linear-lair 

 ©eolate, nerved, smoothish, scabrous on the margin, pilose at base lower oncsve. 

 rj long: sheaths Btriate, smooth ; ligule obtuse, sometimes ovate, fringed. Spikes 

 '2 to 8 indies long, frequently purple, terminal and lateral, usually in 3's or 4% 

 (sometimes 5 or 6,) lateral ones often In pairs ; roeAis sewt-terete, pilose on the an- 

 gles. Abortive spikelet on a clavate, compressed, plumose pedicel; glumes lance- 

 olate, acuminate lower one slightly keeled ; palsa pilose, awnless ; floret siami- 

 nate (sometimes neuter:). Perfect spikelet sessile: glumes unequal, scabrous) 

 lower or outer one longer, flat, With2 keels, upper one ke, led, somewhat com- 

 pressed ; jKtlva % (often I or 9 shorter accessory ones, as of an abortive floret,)] 

 upperl one bifid, with a tortuous awn between the segments. 



Hub. Mica-slate range ; low grounds : frequent. Fl. Aug. FY. SepU 



Obs The Audmpogon8, although boUnically related to the Sugar cane, and 

 the Broom corn, are grasses of no value to the Agriculturist,— and are sure indi- 

 oatiens, where they abound, of a sterile soil, or of a negligent farmer. Six or 



Seven additional species are enumerated in the U. .States. 



59. SORGHUM. Per*. Mat. Qen. 94. 



[Formed from Sorghi; the Asiatic name of one of the species.] 



Spikelets in purs, or threes. . Ibortive spikelets pedicellate, complete, 

 staminate or neuter, awnless. Perfect spikelet sessile, 1 -flowered; 

 Glvmes 2, coriaceous; palem 3, membranaceous, the upper one awned, 

 the third or innermost one small, opposite to and connected with the 

 collateral ciiiate scales. 



1. S. saccharatum, Pers. Culm erect , terete, solid ; panicle large, 

 loose; branches verticillate, lon;>; spreading, at length nodding; 

 glumes of the perfect spikelet hairy, persistent, embracing the seed. 



Pers. Syn. 1. p. 101. 



Holcus saccharatus. Willd. Sp. 4. p. 930. Ait. Kcw. 5. p. 430. 



Sugar Sorghum. Vulgo — Broom Corn. 



Root annual Culm 6 to 8 or 9 feet high, and half an hah to an inch indium, 

 ettr, terete, smooth, solid or Jilted with pith ; to des tumid, with a ring of short up- 

 pressed hairs at the base of the sheaths. Leaves 2 feet or more in length, and 2 

 tod inches wide, lanceolate, acuminate, nerved, keeled, smooth, pubescent at base 

 near the ligu>e, somewhat scabrous on the margin : sheaths smooth . li ule short, 

 triliate. Panicle large, diffuse ; branches pertioiUate, nearly simple, long,Jlexuose^ 

 nodose at base, roughish, pubescent, with the spikelets in small clusters near the 

 extremities. Abortive spikelets pedicellate, compete, mostly siuiniruue, often in 

 pairs ; glumes herbaceous, striate, nearly smooth, pubescent on the murgin ; paleae 

 ciliute, atmltss, the lotcer one larger \ scales broad-cuneate, truncate. Perfect 

 spikelet sessile; 1 >wer glume clothed with glossy oppressed hairs ; upper one 

 smooth at base* hairy near the apex. Palcae 3, fringed or ciliatc-pubescent on the 

 margin; lower one longest, lance-oratc ; upper one broa< -ovate, bifid at apex^ 

 with ajlexuose awn between the eegements which is ratht r longer than the spikelet) 

 the inner or third palea smallest, linear-lanceolate {perhaps the rudiment of a sec* 

 o.tdjloret) : scales broad-cuneate, truncate, cHiale. Ovary roundish-ovoid, smooty 

 and shining. Stigmas greenish yellow. Seed elliptic, somewhat cowj*re*sc*\ 



Hal?. Gardens, and Corn fields ; frequent. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



