Pennisetum domingense

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 100–700 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; involute; 0.5–4 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; loose; 2–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 4–10 mm long; base truncate; base 0.75 mm long; base pubescent. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; few; with longest bristle scarcely emergent; 15–20 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.2–4.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.2–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.2–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Man Gr WI 1994.

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