58 KANSAS STATE BO ABB OF AGBICULTUBE. 



31. Babn-yaed Gbass; Panicum Crus-galli, L. — This is an introduced annual, 

 growing in manured soil, in ditches, etc., appearing as if indigenous. The culms 

 are stout, and branching from the base, 1 to 4 feet high. The leaves are half an 

 inch or more in width, and rough-margined. The spikes are alternate, 1 to 3 inches 

 long, and crowded in a dense panicle. There are several varieties, the bearded one 

 being common. It is here considered a weed, though said to be of value in the 

 South. (Plate No. 31.) 



32. Panic Gbass; Panicum colonum, L. — This resembles small and smooth 

 forms of the last, but it has the spikes or branches of the slender panicle entirely 

 simple and unbranched, while in the other species they are more or less compound. 

 The perfect flower is much less pointed. Possibly occurring in the State, but of no 

 value. 



Setaria, Beauv. — A small genus of annuals with flowers of the same structure as in Panicum. 

 The flowering glume and palet are indurated and striate. The spikelets form a cylindrical or elonga- 

 ted spike-like, or sometimes interrupted panicle. Below the spikelets are one to several bristles or 

 stiff hairs, which are supposed to be abortive branchlets, and which remain after the spikelets fall 

 away. 



33. Fox-tail Gbass; Setaria verticillata, Beauv. — In this species the bristles are 

 roughened or barbed downwards, but in the two following they are roughened or 

 barbed upwards. The spike is 2 or 3 inches long, pale green, and composed of ap- 

 parently whorled clusters; the bristles are short. It is naturalized from Europe, 

 and found sparingly around dwellings. Of no known agricultural value. 



34. Yellow Fox-tail; Pigeon-geass; Bottle-gbass; Setaria glauca, Beauv. — 

 An introduced annual, about 2 feet high. The spike-like panicle is of a tawny-yellow 

 when mature. The perfect flower is transversely wrinkled. The seeds furnish poul- 

 try food. It yields some fodder which analysis shows to be as nutritious as Hun- 

 garian grass; but on the whole it is usually considered a mere weed. 



35. Geeen Fox-tail; Pigeon-gbass; Bottle-geass; Setaria viridis, Beauv. — 

 Like the preceding in character and structure, but the spike is green, the bristles 

 few, the grains small and pointed and less distinctly wrinkled. 



Cekchrus, L. — A small genus of worthless and troublesome grasses, with spikelets as in Panicum, 

 but inclosed 1 to 3 together in a thick, very prickly involucre or bur, arranged in an oblong or cylin- 

 drical panicle. 



36. Sand-bub; Bub Gbass; Hedgehog Gbass; Cenchrus tribuloides,~L. — This too 

 well-known grass, more abundant in sandy soil, and nourishing in neglected ground, 

 grows from one to two feet high and produces an abundant crop of most trouble- 

 some, long-prickled burs, which adhere tenaciously to the bodies of animals, espe- 

 cially of sheep. It is an annual, and can be easily eradicated if removed before the 

 seed matures. 



Zizania, L. — A very small genus of large aquatic grasses. The flowers are in large diffuse, monoe- 

 cious panicles. The spikelets are one-flowered, and consist of 2 membranous scales (glumes or palets) 

 the lower glumes being absent or reduced to a cup-like ring. There are 6 stamens. The lower scale or 

 glume is, in the fertile spikelets, tipped with a straight awn. 



37. Wild Rice; Indian Rice; Wateb Oats; Zizania aquatica, L. — This species 

 grows in swamps or in water, and attains a height of 5 to 10 feet. It has thick 

 spongy stems, and many large broad leaves. The grain is nutritious, and cattle are 

 said to be fond of the grass. 



Leersia, Swartz. — A small genus of unimportant marsh grasses, with rough leaves and sheaths, 

 and flowers in one-sided panicled spikes or racemes. The spikelets are one-flowered, with two strongly 

 compressed chartaceous scales (glumes or palets) ; these are awnless, bristly ciliate on the keels, the 

 lower one much shorter, and inclosing the seed. The stamens are 1 to 6 in number, the stigmas 2, and 

 the grain flattened. 



