364 Select Plants fo r Industrial Culture and
P a n i c u m r e p e n s , L i n u é .
Near tlie Mediterranean Sea, also in South-Asia and North-Aus-
tralia. Regarded by the Cingalese as a good fodder-grass. I t is
perennial aud well suited for naturalisation on moist soil, river-banks
and swamps. P. ooloratum, L., seems a variety of purplish colour,
aud is therefore used ornamentally in vases.
P a n i c u m r o s e u m , S t e u d e l .* (Tricholæna rosea,'Sees.)
South-Africa. This perennial pretty grass promises to become
with others of the section Trioholæua valuable for meadows in mild
climes. I t gets about 2 feet high. Mr. Danger counted nearly 300
stems on one plant iu Gippsland ; grows there most vigorously,
densely covering meadow-ground, much relished by stock. Also
much lauded by Mr. Holtze as a pasture-grass in extra-tropic South-
Australia. Well calculated to increase the national provender on
runs. In Fiji it reaches a height of 4 feet ; it rises most readily from
seed, even if the latter is merely blown about [R. L. Holmes]. I t
will not bear frost ; the stems take root where they touch the
ground ; an acre has been calculated to yield 30 tons green feed in
the rich valleys of the Macleay-River. Quite suitable for bouquets
[A. R. Crawford],
P a n i c u m s a n g u i n a l e , L in n é .
From Middle and South-Europe, Northern Africa aud Southern
Asia, spread through all countries with a warm climate, and apparently
also indigenous in North- and East-Anstralia. The “ Finger-
grass,” called “ Crab-grass ” in the U nited States, where aecording to
Mr. Hagenauer it is recognised as one of the most useful of all
pasture-grasses ; in Fiji it is also considered the best grass for pastures
according to Mr. Holmes. I t accommodates itself to swampy
and shady places, readily gets disseminated on barren ground, and it
is likely to add to the value of desert-pastures a t least in oases, but
in cold countries it is annual. P. ciliare (Linné) and P; glabrum
(Gandin) are allied. Colonel Howard of Georgia says of the Crab-
grass and Bermuda-grass, th a t they will live iu spite of neglect, but
when petted will make such grateful returns as to astonisl» their
benefactor. The Finger-grass spreads readily from seeds as well as
joints. Valuable also for binding coast-sand aud fixing soil along
water-courses ; but iu warm regions it may become intrusive on agricultural
land. Siiy to frost. I t will spread out to 4 feet width iu a
year, emitting hundreds of fascicles of florets [W. Read]. Growth
after summer-rains very quick. Thrives splendidly on the sandhills
of the hot Australian interior also ; grows there most vigorously.
Mr. Jo h n Clayton also bestows great praise on it for its splendid
growth on the lower Swau-river. In the southern states of North-
America much valued for midsummer-pasture, though for nay the
yield also there proved but light [Sereno Watson].
Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 355
P a n ic um s em ia la tum , R. Brown.
Warmer regions of Asia, Africa aud Australia. A superior ta ll
pasture-grass, of easy dispersion in warm humid localities.
P a n ic um sp e c ta b ile , Nees.*
The “ Coapim ” of Angola, called also “ Wonder-Crass ” after its
incomparable display of iiioaloulable value. Prom West-Africa
transferred to many other tropical countries. A rather succulent, very
fattening grass, famed not only iu its native land, but also long’since
in Brazil, as already mentioned in Lindley’s “ Vegetable Kingdom,”
p. 113 (1847), from Nees von Eseubeck’s even earlier publication o’n
this subject. This grass, which was with the invoked help of the
great Kew-establishment first obtained by the author for Australia
and Polynesia, is according to Mr. R. L. Holmes “ the wonder of all
beholders in Fiji, strangling by its running roots almost everything
in its course ; at its original starting point forming a mass of the
richest green foliage, over 6 feet high, gradually lowering to the
outer border, where a network of shoots or runners covers the
ground ; it roots at the joints, and sends up then a mass of the
softest aud most luscious nutritive fodder.” In Fiji it runs over the
soil at the rate of 10 feet in three mouths. From Port Darwin largely
distributed by the Messrs. Holtze. Readily propagated by pieces of
the procumbent stem, which roots freely a t each joint. Spoken of
also iu high praise on account of its astonishing growth by Mr.
Edgar, of Rocldiampton Botanic Garden, Queensland, who mentions
th a t it still succeeds well in Western Queensland, 500 miles inland
from Rockhampton. I t also thrives on the Upper Murchison River
in West Australia [Isaac Tyson]. I t has flowered at Po rt Phillip.
Destined to play a grand rôîe in the pasturage of Australia. Like
other luxuriant grasses when grown iu low wet ground, this grass
can also become hurtful, particularly to sheep, and it may therefore
be needful to occasionally shift flocks and herds from pastures of this
grass, should they become over-rich. In tropical countries it must be
kept away from agricultural land. Has also done well in Riverina
[Dr. Mein], Spreads wonderfully as far south as Geographe-Bay in
West Australia [Pries]. Requires to be well fed down. I t may be
assumed, th a t a t present about 300 well-defined species of Panicum
are known, chiefly tropical and sub-tropical ; very few extending
naturally to Europe or the United States of North-America, Japan
or the southern part of Australia. Though mostly from the hot
zones, these grasses endure a cooler clime in many instances, and some
of them would prove great acquisitions, particularly the perennial
species. Numerous good kinds occur spontaneously in Queensland
and North-Australia. Panicum is the genus richest in species among
grasses.
P a n ic um s t r ia tum , L a m a r c k . (P. gibhum, E l l i o t t . )
Southern States of North-Amerioa, West-Iudies and Guiana. A
peroauial grass for swampy localities, valuable for pastoral purposes,