Latin name for P. miliaceum.
Perennial or annual grasses. Leaves mostly basal, flat, rolled in bud. Ligule of hairs with or without a membrane. Inflorescence a panicle. Spikelets dorsally flattened, unawned, 2-flowered but the lower floret either sterile or male only. Second glume and lower lemma usually equal, papery, concealing the slightly shorter shiny and rigid fertile floret. Glumes 2, without tufts of hair, lower glume 1-7 nerved, upper glume 3-9 nerved. Lemmas rarely rugose, awnless, hairless. Palea entire, awnless, 2-nerved.
Seed.
Cultivated fodder, also millets and grains. Others significant weed species.
Panicle open in cultivated specimens. Spikelets dorsally flattened, first glume short, second glume and fertile lemma equal and papery, concealing the slightly shorter rigid fertile floret which is shiny and awnless.
About 370 species, tropical to subtropical and warm temperate regions.
Source: (2005). Poaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
