Pennisetum hordeoides

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 25–120 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–30 cm long; 1.5–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; straight, or curved; 3.5–9 cm long; 0.4–0.6 cm wide (excluding bristles). Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis with briefly decurrent ribs; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 2.5–4.5 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; in one whorl; 6–8 in principal whorl; with one conspicuously longer bristle; 5–6(–8) mm long; terete; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; dentate; 3 -fid. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long; anther tip smooth.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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