Cenchrus
pennisetiformis* (Hochst.
& Steud.) Wipff. Sida 19(3): 527, f. 1. 2001. Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Schimper hrbr. un. it. arab. 973, 28 JAn
1826, Saudia Arabia: Jedda, indeserto prope oppid. Deschedda (P; ILT: K (3
sheets)). LT designated by Wipff, Sida 19: 527 (2001).
Recent synonyms:
Pennisetum pennisetiforme.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (284), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia as Pennisetum
pennisetiforme, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (181).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (436, fig. 366, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(181).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, 10–40 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of
hairs. Leaf-blades flat, 2–20 cm long, 2–5 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, of only a few spikelets (spicate). Panicle linear to
oblong, 2–6 cm long. Racemes 2–6 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1–3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles, connate
into a cup below. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely
male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or ovate, dorsally
compressed, 3–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate,
membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper
glume lanceolate or ovate, 2–3.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1–3
-nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Florets. Basal sterile florets
1, male or barren, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of
spikelet, membranous, 5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 3–5 mm
long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers
3. Grain 1.5–2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland.
Western Australia: Dampier. Mueller,
Fortescue, Ashburton. Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River,
Barkly Tableland, Central Australia North, Central
Australia South. South Australia:
Lake Eyre, Flinders
Ranges. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Gregory
North, Maranoa, Mitchell, North Kennedy.
