Pennisetum lanatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 30–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent, or hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–30 cm long; 3–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent, or hirsute. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pilose above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3.5–13.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis angular; pubescent; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–4 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 3–7 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; branched; numerous; terete; flexible; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–5.5(–6.5) mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.33–0.4 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; anther tip smooth.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Pak.

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