maximum, Jacq. Guinea grass. (Fig. 523.) A coarse perennial, growing in dense tufts to the height of as much as ten feet, and pro ducing creeping rootstocks. Inflorescence a large, loose panicle ; lemma transversely wrinkled. Native of tropical Africa, but extensively cul tivated in tropical. America as a forage plant. Somewhat grown in Florida, but will not withstand frost. This should not be confounded with Johnson-grass, which it resembles somewhat in appearance. It is not so hardy as Johnson-grass, and is less troublesome. It furnishes much of the roughage found on the markets in the West Indies.
miliaceum, Linn. Broom-corn Millet. Hog Millet. (Fig. 524.) A rather coarse annual, two to four feet high, with hispid sheaths and large, drooping panicles. A native of the Old World, where it has been cultivated since prehistoric times. Cultivated in Europe and Asia for forage and also for the seed, which is used for food. In this country it is cultivated to a limited extent for forage. This is the true millet of the Old World. In the United States the name millet is given to Chwtoehloa Italica. (Because of its quick growth it is adapted to the North, and is grown some what extensively in the Dakotas. It is much more drought-resistant than the other millets.) [See Millet and Meadows and Pastures.] Crus - galli, Linn. Barnyard Grass. (Figs. 525 and 526.) A common annual weed probably introduced from Europe, though some forms are native in the United States. Differs from the other species in having awned spikelets, for which reason some authors refer it to the genus Eeltinochloa. Inflorescence a raceme of short spikes. Certain forms of this species are sparingly grown in this country under the name of Japanese barnyard millet. These and the form cultivated in Asia for the grain are sometimes known as Panieum frumentaceum, and are shorter-awned than the common forms.
8. Chmtochloa (G r eek, bristle-grass). A genus of annual or perennial grasses of about forty species, found in the warm regions of both hemispheres.
Spikelets with the structure of Panicum, but interspersed with rough ened bristles which usually extend be yond the spikelets. Inflorescence a dense, cylindrical spike. Also known as Setaria. Sev eral species are common weeds in cultivated soil, e. g., C. virid is and C. glaucw (Fig. 527),
foxtail or pigeon-grass.
Italics, Se rib n. Millet. Hungarian-grass. (Fig. 528.) A coarse annual with thick green or purple spikes, cultivated for forage, espe cially in the region of the Great Plains. Native of the Old World. Also called Bengal-grass. [See Millet and Meadows and Pastures.] 9. Pennisetum (Greek, feather bristle). A genus of annual or perennial grasses comprising about forty species, found in the tropics of both hemi spheres, but more especially the eastern. Spikelets as in Panicum, but surrounded by a cluste bristles which fall from the axis with the spikelet (except in the cultivated form). Inflorescence a raceme or spike.
spicatum, R. and S. (Pennisetum typhoideum, Rich.; Penicellaria spieata, Willd.). Pearl mil let. (Fig. 529.) A tall, coarse, annual grass, resembling sorghum, but having a dense cylin drical inflorescence six to fourteen inches in length and an inch or less in diameter. The origin of pearl millet is unknown, but it has been cultivated in tropical Africa and Asia for an indefinite period for forage and for the seed, which is used for food. It is now cultivated in the United States to some ex tent for forage, and the seed is some times sold under the name of Pencilaria and Mand's Wonder forage plant. For further account, see United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin, No. 168. [See .1/11/01 10. Stenotaphrum (Greek, narrow trench, alluding to cavities in the rachis). A genus of grasses of three or four species, found in the tropical regions of both hemispheres. Spikelets as in Panicum, but sunken in the cavities of the one-sided broad axis, forming short spikes.
secundatum, Kuntze (S. Amcricanum, Schr.). St. Augustine Grass. (Fig. 530.) A creeping grass with flat stems and obtuse leaves, found in the southern states, mostly near the coast, as far north as South Carolina. The flowering stems may be as much as a foot high. The plants root readily at the nodes and form a thick sod, and hence the grass is especially valuable for lawns or for holding em bankments, both in sandy and in mucky soil. The American plant is considered distinct from the Asiatic (S. dimidiatum, Kuntze). It is known locally as Charleston lawn grass and mission grass.