Pennisetum macrostachyum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 200–300 cm long; 10–20 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 10–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs; puberulous, or pubescent; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 20–30 mm long; base obtuse; base 0.5 mm long. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; 20–30 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3; anther tip apiculate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Pacific: southwestern and north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Reeder 1993.

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