Cenchrus longisetus* M.C. Johnst., Sida
1 (3): 182 (1963).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Pennisetum
villosum R. Br.
ex Fresen., Mus. Senckenberg. 2: 134 (1837).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: H. Salt s.n., 1805–1810, Ethiopia.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (280) as Pennisetum villosum, [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia as Pennisetum villosum,, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (426) as Pennisetum villosum,, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of
South Australia (474) as Pennisetum villosum,, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (334) as Pennisetum villosum,.
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (474, Fig. 407 as Pennisetum villosum), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(334) as Pennisetum villosum.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Stolons absent. Culms geniculately
ascending or decumbent, 15–90 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades
flat or conduplicate, 7–15 cm long, 2–6 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate or globose, 2–12 cm
long, 1–2 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1(–4) in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles.
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, dorsally compressed, 9–14 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate, membranous, without
keels, 0–1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, 3.5–6 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 1–3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, male or
barren, with palea or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret
100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 7–11 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 9–14 mm
long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lodicules absent or vestigial. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Menzies. South Australia: Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty,
Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland:
Burnett, Darling Downs, Maranoa, Moreton. New South Wales: Central
Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western
Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains,
South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland,
Gippsland Plain, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Otway Plain, Riverina, Volcanic
Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, East Coast.
Notes.
Introduced. An ornamental grass with little or no forage importance. Flowers
mostly Jan.-July.
