PANICLE CHARACTERS OF SORGO 31 
to honey yellow; ; scutellum essentially straight longitudinally and its surface 
conforming closely to that of the caryopsis, about three-fifths as long as the 
caryopsis but with its outline frequently not completely distinguishable ; radicle 
prominent ; longitudinal lines rather obscure, passing along the edges of the 
scutellum at its base ; summit symmetrical or nearly so, but style bases often 
directed somewhat ventrally ; sterile spikelets falling off abundantly by the 
rupture of the pedicels, compressed and roiled inward at the sides, lanceolate, 
acute to somewhat acuminate, having both glumes and sometimes a lemma, but 
without lodicules. neuter, shorter or somewhat longer than the glumes of the 
fertile spikelet, rarely by as much as one-sixth the length of the sterile 
spikelet. light yellow to brown, and more or less mottled or spotted, occasionally 
Je. or on pedicels as much as one-third as long as the second glume of the 
fertile spikelet. the pedicel ciliate with hairs somewhat coarser than the se 
of the callus of the fertile spikelet. occasionally reaching beyond the apex of 
the glumes of the fertile spikelet by as much as one-third its length, by reason 
of the combined length of the sterile spikelet and its pedicel ; first glume about 
10 to 16 nerved, the second, third, or fourth nerve on each side comm 
on the edge of the spikelet. being coarser than the other nerves and scabrous- 
hispid above, barbate on the callus and ciliate on the edges, otherwise glabrous ; 
keel of second glume occasionally in view, finely scabrous-hispid in the upper 
half. 
Sasnac Amber {Sugar Plant No. 01958). — Whorls of rays often well 
separated on the middle of the axis, but closer together below and above and 
occasionally very compact at the base ; glumes of the fertile spikelet somewhat 
incurved on the sides below, above inflexed, the margins often infolded at 
the apices, indurate, thickened for the entire length from the base bat more 
thickened below, the margins also thickened, except occasionally in the upper 
one-fourth or one-third, and with an outer usually hyaline and sometimes ciliate 
border, opening about the same as in the preceding variety, rather closely 
investing the caryopsis, the callus occasionally sparsely barbate with somewhat 
coarse deciduous hairs ; first glume obscurely about 12 to 16 nerved in the 
upper one-fifth to one-half, the second nerve on each side coarse and keellike 
and scabrous-hispid, the bristles black or blackish and rigid and more or less 
appressed, black and shining, or occasionally purplish black, usually not bent 
back above the callus ; second glume also thickened, commonly more convex, 
acute, marked with three or four short faint longitudinal creases at the base, 
more or less keeled above; awn 0.25 to 0.40 inch long, geniculate, with bend 
exserted. twisted and dark brown to the bend, but above whitish or yellow and 
scabrous ; caryopsis ovate-elliptic or elliptic, less convex on the ventral side 
than the preceding; sterile spikelets shorter to about as long as the second 
glume of the fertile spikelet. their apices occasionally reaching beyond the 
second glume, yellowish to dark purple drab, frequently darkest at the base, 
almost sessile or on pedicels sometimes reaching to abgut one-third the length 
of the fertile spikelet. sparsely pilose, the callus barbate with coarser hairs. 
One or more varieties called Black Amber. Early Black Amber, or Early 
Amber are similar to this, but differ in the arrangement of the panicle rays. 
A variety known as Maze Amber (S. I'. No. 0231101) is similar, but the 
glumes are reddish brown. 
Honey {Sugar Phi, it No. 024H66). — Panicle conical, somewhat more abun- 
dantly branched and usually larger: a i' the axis frequently somewhat 
oblique, and each internode somewhat curved just below these nodes; longest 
rays two-thirds or three-fifths as long as the panicle: ultimate branches fine: 
axes and branches often reddish brown : first glume of fertile spikelet obovate- 
elliptic or elliptic (greatest width two-thirds from the base or in the middle >, 
considerably incurved on the sides, the margins aided at the apices, red- 
dish brown or sometimes light brown, usually sparsely pih.se. the base without 
more persistent hairs : awn somewhat shorter than in 8. P. No. 01958 - what 
more loosely twisted; caryopsis light yellow, light buff, or reddish brown; 
scutellum approximately conforming with the dorsal surface of the caryopsis; 
sterile spikelets light yellow to light reddish brown, the darker shade moi> 
quently in the upper half than below. 
A variety known as Red Amber mot the one next succeeding) is similar to 
S. P. X". 0241466, but is smaller _ - and earlier maturing. 
Red Amber {Sugar Plant No. -In regard to type of panicle this 
variety is transitional between the effuse and the contracted types. Panicle 
somewhat smaller and rays shorter than in preceding varieties; first glume of 
