Pennisetum schweinfurthii

HABIT Perennial. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 30–60 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis villous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 4 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 9–12 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with an outer whorl of thinner bristles; with one conspicuously longer bristle; 20–28 mm long; terete; flexible; ciliate. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; oblong; laterally compressed; 9–10 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 8–9 mm long; keeled; 1–3 -veined; obtuse, or acute. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; exserted from glumes; 6–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 9–10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1–2 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, or ovate; 2–3 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; 0–1 -veined; without midvein, or with evident midvein; without lateral veins; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 9–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 5–6 mm long; anther tip smooth. Styles connate below.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA 1993.

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