The name is given to severalAustralian grasses. The Koda Millet of India, Paspalumscrobiculatum, Linn., is called in Australia DitchMillet; Seaside Millet is the name given to Paspalum distichum, Linn., both of the N.O. Gramineae. But the principal species is called Australian Millet, Native Millet, and UmbrellaGrass; it is Panicum decompositum, R. Br., N.O. Gramineae; it is not endemic in Australia.
1896. `The Australasian,' March 14, p. 488, col. 5:
«One of the very best of the grasses found in the hot regionsof Central Australia is the Australian millet, Panicumdecompositum. It is extremely hardy and stands the hot drysummers of the north very well; it is nutritious, and cattleand sheep are fond of it. It seeds freely, was used by theaborigines for making a sort of cake, and was the only grainstored by them. This grass thrives in poor soil, and startsinto rapid growth with the first autumn rains.»