MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE WEST INDIES 407 
Anatherum muricatum Beauv., Ess. Agrost. 128, 150. pl. 22, f. 10. 
1812. 
Vetweria arundinacea Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. Ind. 559. 1864. 
Jamaica, Trinidad. 
Vetiveria muricata Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. Ind. 560. 1864. 
Sorghum zizanoides Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 791. 1891. 
Andropogon zizanioides Urban, Symb. Antill. 4: 79. 1903. 
Anatherum zizanioides Hitche. and Chase, Contrib. U. S. Natl. 
lierb, 18: 285.) On7. 
Robust, densely tufted, erect, branching perennial; culms 1 to 2 m 
tall, blades olabrous, firm: or rigid, 30 to 100 cm long, 4 to 10 mm wide, 
scabrous on the margin ; panicle elongate-pyramidal, 20 to 30 cm 
long, the branches in 6 to 10 whorls of as many as 20 rays, the lower 
naked part as much as 5 cm; racemes as much as 5 em long (fig. 360). 
A native of Asia, cultivated in the Tropics of both hemispheres. 
Commonly cultivated in the West Indies as a hedge plant and for its 
aromatic roots. Sometimes escaped along roadsides. It is called 
“vetiver’’ in Cuba. The roots are packed with articles of clothing 
to preserve them from moths. This is the grass that produces the 
aromatic roots called in Puerto Rico “pacholi’”’ * or “pachuli.” The 
Indian name ‘‘khus-khus” is used in the English islands. The aro- 
matic roots are sometimes woven into screens which, when wet, are 
used to perfume living quarters. Also sometimes called “cockroach 
grass” and ‘‘khas-khas.”’ 
111. SORGHUM Moench, Meth. Pl. 207. 1794° 
Spikelets in pairs, one sessile and fertile, the other pedicellate, 
sterile but well developed, usually staminate, the terminal sessile 
spikelet with two pedicellate spikelets. Annual or perennial, tall or 
moderately tall grasses, with flat blades and terminal panicles of 
1- to 5-jointed tardily disarticulating racemes. The numerous va- 
rieties of the cultivated Sorghum are considered species by some. 
Plants perennial, with creeping rhizomes____________________ 1. S. HALEPENSE. 
LRALG WOES) EMSS SUCH LS ho" isa I ln pe) Us me 2 | 2. S. VULGARE. 
1. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 101. 1805. 
JOHNSON GRASS. 
Holcus halepensis L., Sp. Pl. 1047. 1753. Syria. 
Andropogon halepensis Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1: 89. 1804. 
Robust perennial with numerous stout rhizomes; culms mostly 
1 to 1.5 m tall; blades mostly less than 1.5 em wide, the midrib 
prominent, the white margins scabrous; panicle 15 to 25 cm long; 
fertile spikelets plump, 5 mm long, the awn when present 7 to 10 mm 
long, deciduous; staminate spikelets 4 mm long, the pedicel 3 mm 
long (fig. 361). 
A weed in fields and waste places in the warmer parts of North 
America; introduced from the Old World. Found in all the large 
islands and probably in most of the smaller ones. 
7Est. Expt. Agron. Bol. 22: 108. 1914. 
8 Contrib. U. 8S. Natl. Herb. 8: 208. 1903. 
® Holcus L. was used for this genus in Grasses of the West Indies. The historic type of that genus is 
Holcus sorghum L., but a standard species, /7. lanatus L., has been adopted instead, in order to conserve 
Holcus for the velvet grass and to make Sorghum Moench available for the economically important 
sorghums. 
