Relatives
Setaria italica (L). Beauv. - Foxtail, Italian millet.
Taxonomic position.
Family Poaceae Barnh.; genus: Setaria Beauv.Basic synonyms:
Panicum italicum L., P. germanicum Mill., Setaria germanica (Mill.) Beauv.Morphology and biology.
Annual plant 60-120 (200) cm in height. Leaves usually downy, asperous. An inflorescence - dense, compact, spike-like panicle. The density of an inflorescence is caused by contraction of panicle branches. The panicle can be cylindrical or lobate - lobes are formed in case of lengthening of inflorescences branches. Spikes are two-floral, one flower - carpogenic, another - is reduced up to scale. Bristles are long, crenate, have different length. A fruit - tunicate small caryopsis which is easily released from scales. Blossoms in July, fructifies in September. 2n=18.Distribution.
The general distribution: Middle Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Iran, the Himalayas, region Dzhungarsko-Kashgarsky, Mongolia, China, Southern Asia, North America. In the territory of the former USSR: the European part - the Top Volga, Carpathian mountains, Moldova, Middle Volga, Middle Dnepr, Black Sea Coast, Crimea, Southern Ural; Western Siberia - Upper -Tobolsky, Irtyshsky, Altay regions; Eastern Siberia - Daursky region; Middle Asia - all areas, except for Pamir; the Far East - Zeya - Bureinsky, Ussurysky, Sakhalin areas.Ecology.
At roads, in settlements, in sowings of other crops. It is cultivated plant and it frequently runs from sowings.Use and economic value.
Alimentary (sereals), fodder, forage.References:
Cherepanov, S.K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and allied countries (in frame of the former USSR). St-Petersburg. 990 p (in Russian).Komarov V.L., ed. 1934. Flora of the USSR. Vol.II.
Tzvelev, N.N. 1976. Graminoids of the USSR. Leningrad, Nauka, 1976. p. 677-678 (in Russian).
Zhukovsky, P.M. 1964. Cultivated plants and their relatives. Leningrad: "Kolos". p. 230-232 (in Russian).