Mexicana, Schrad. (Reana luxurians, Dur.). Teo sinte. (Fig. 516.) A tall annual with long, broad leaves. resembling Indian corn in habit, native of Mexico and Central America, and cultivated in the southern states for forage. [See Maize and Teosinte.] 3. Saccharum (Greek for sugar). A genus of grasses containing about a dozen species, all but three of which are confined to the tropics of the Old Worm. grasse. with usually large, termi nal, spreading panicles, the small spikelets sur rounded by long silky hairs. Spikelets usually in pairs at the joints of the articulated rachis, one sessile and the other pediceled, one-flowered, with a sterile lemma below the fertile flower.
offteinarum, Linn. Sugar-cane. (Fig. 517.) Stem tall and stout, panicles ample, silky. Cultivated in all tropical countries for the production of sugar. Native country unknown, but probably southwestern Asia. Propagated by cuttings of the stem, as the flowers very rarely produce seed. [See Sugar-cane.] 4. Sorghum. A genus of about thirteen species of grasses, including the cultivated sorghum and allied forms, many of which are considered as dis tinct species by some authors. Spikelets in threes in a panicle ; the central spikelet sessile, containing a single perfect flower with a sterile lemma above the glumes ; the lateral spikelets pediceled and staminate or neuter.
Halepense, Pers. (Andropogon Halepenais, Brot.). Johnson - grass. (Fig. 518.) A coarse perennial with extensively creeping rootstocks ; stems usually 3 to 5 feet high ; leaves one to two feet long, one half inch wide ; panicle open and spreading, six to twelve inches long. Native of the warmer parts of the Old World but well established in the southern half of the United States, where it is cultivated for forage. In many parts of the South it has become a pernicious weed, especially in the black lands of Texas. This species is thought to be the original of the cultivated sorghum.
vulgare, Pers. (Andropo gen Sorghum, Brot.). Sor ghum. (Fig. 519.) Differs from the preceding in its larger size, annual roots without rootstocks, and usually large fruit and seed. The panicle varies much in shape in the different varieties. This is the species usually referred to as "millet" in China.
[See Sorghum.] 5. Syntherisma (Greek, crop-making). A genus of grasses of about forty species, mostly tropical, with spikelets similar in structure to those of Panicum but arranged in one-sided, more or less digitate spikes. Considered by many as a section
(Digitaria) of Panicum.
sanguinalis, Dulac. Crab-grass. (Fig. 520.) A well-known annual weed common in cultivated soil, especially in the South. A native of the Old World. The stems reach a height of three feet and are branching. They are pros trate at the base and root at the lower nodes.
6. Paspalum(Greek name for some grass, probably millet). A genus of grasses containing about one hun dred species, in the warmer regions of both hemispheres. Spikelets one-flowered, plano-convex or flattened, elliptical or circular in out line, sessile or short-pedi celed, arranged singly or in pairs in a one-sided spike. Lower glume small or obso lete, upper glume and sterile lemma similar in length and texture, membranaceous; fertile lemma indurated. Spikes single or in pairs at the apex of the long pedun cle, or racemosely distrib uted along the upper part.
didatatum, Poir. Water grass. (Fig. 521.) A rather coarse, leafy perennial. growing in clumps two to five feet high ; spikes two to ten ; spikelets hairy. Produces many succulent basal leaves. A native of Brazil, from whence it was introduced into this country ; now well established in the gulf states, where it is looked on as a native grass.
7. Panicum (Latin name for P. Italicum). A large genus of annual or perennial grasses, con taining probably 500 or 600 species, mostly trop ical, represented in the United States by about 130 species, particularly abundant in the southeastern states ; a few occur as far north as Canada.
Spikelets one-flowered, usually awnless, in one sided spikes or in more or less diffuse panicles ; lower glume usually small ; upper glume and sterile lemma membranaceous, the latter sometimes with stamens ; the fertile lemma and palea indurated.
molls, Sw. Para-grass. (Fig. 522.) A rather coarse, reed-like perennial, four to six feet high, with hairy nodes and narrow lax panicles, six to eight inches long; producing extensively creeping woody runners which root at the nodes. Native of South America, where it is culti vated as a forage grass. It is also cultivated in the West Indies and Mexico and to a limited extent in southern Florida and Texas.