Pennisetum longissimum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 80–180 cm long; 8–14 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 30–90 cm long; 5–20 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis retrorsely scabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 15–40 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; 15–40 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; 6–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 2 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 5–7 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; anther tip smooth.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Chen & Jin 1996.

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