Sorghum.] 
CLVII. GRAMINE^E (Stapf). 
tinged with red, widely spread- 
ing with their margins involute, 
much exceeding the white 
translucent grains 
Spikelets awnless, ovate, acute ; 
glumes hairy when young, per- 
manently tawny or pale straw- 
colour, slightly exceeding or 
equalling the dull white (in the 
tropical African forms) grains. 
Mature spikelets 2^-3 lin. long, 
pale straw-colour, perma- 
nently more or less hairy ; 
the grain embraced below by 
the tightly appressed glumes 
whose margins are not invo- 
lute ... 
Mature spikelets 24 lin. long, 
bright tawny, early glabres- 
cent ; margins of glumes invo- 
lute, grain almost wholly ex- 
posed between them ; pani- 
cles rather loose with long 
slender very flexuous branches 
Sessile spikelets broadly obovate in 
outline ; lower glume with a very 
short depressed, usually perma- 
nently strigillose tip ; mature 
grain obovate-oblong, enclosed or 
the top slightly exposed 
// Mature panicles very dense to compact, rarely 
more or less loosened owing to the reduc- 
tion of the primary axis and the conse- 
quent subdigitate arrangement of the 
branches ; spikelets always densely 
clustered; grains mostly large (nos. 17-19). 
Sessile spikelets rhombic-obovate in outline 
when in flower ; lower glume with a 
rather conspicuous greenish, usually 
strongly nerved tip ; mature grain 
subglobose with a broad rounded much 
exposed top 
Sessile spikelets not obovate nor with a con- 
spicuous greenish triangular tip. 
Spikelets elliptic-ovate, shortly acute, 
2^-2| lin. by 1J-14 lin., loosely vil- 
lous ; panicles erect (sometimes re- 
curved), oblong, very dense, some- 
times lobed ... 
Spikelets elliptic -oblong (sides rather 
straight), subobtuse or minutely 
acute, 2 lin. by 1-1 J lin., sparingly 
hairy or almost glabrous ; panicles 
erect, oblong to linear (in flower), 
dense, branches rather flexuous often 
arching and nodding at the tips, and 
then the panicle looser and lobed . . . 
109 
14. 8. margaritiferum. 
[var. semiclausum. 
15. S. Roxburghii , 
[var. Mans. 
15. S. RoxburgMi, 
[< obovatum . 
16. 8 . bicolor, var. 
17. 8. Burra. 
a 
18. 8. Cajfrorum. 
19. 8. caudatum. 
