Pennisetum sichuanense

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 3–12 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 5–12 cm long; 0.6–0.9 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 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 3–5 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; 3–5 mm long; terete; flexible; retrorsely scaberulous; 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 shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

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

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.