Pennisetum clandestinum

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 3–15(–45) cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths inflated. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1–15 cm long; 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising (1–)2–4(–6) fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; lanceolate; 4–15 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; few; 3–15 in principal whorl; terete; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous, or pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10–20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure, or one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0–3 mm long; 0–0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 8–12 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–20 mm long; membranous; without keel; 8–12 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea membranous; 2–4 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 4–5 mm long; anther tip smooth. Filaments 25–50 mm long. Stigmas 2; protogynous; terminally exserted. Styles 20–30 mm long; connate below; 1 of their length connate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: south-central and north-central. North America: southwest USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.