Pennisetum macrostachys
Plants perennial, or annual in temperate climates; cespitose. Culms 100-300 cm, erect, branching; nodes glabrous. Leaves burgundy; sheaths glabrous; ligules 0.1-0.3 mm; blades 30-53.5 cm long, (15) 18-35 mm wide, flat, glabrous. Panicles terminal, (15.5) 18-40 cm long, 32-50 mm wide, fully exerted from the sheaths, flexible, drooping, burgundy; rachises terete, shortly pubescent. Fascicles 17-22 per cm; fascicle axes 0.5-0.7 mm, with 1 spikelet; outer bristles 21-40, 1.2-22.3 mm, scabrous; inner bristles absent; primary bristles 20-23 mm, not noticeably longer than the other bristles, scabrous. Spikelets 4.4-4.9 mm, sessile or pedicellate, glabrous; pedicels to 0.1 mm; lower glumes 1.1 - 1.3 mm, veinless; upper glumes 2.1 - 2.8 mm, usually about 1/2 as long as the spikelets, 1-3-veined; lower florets staminate (sterile); lower lemmas 4-4.5 mm, 5-veined; lower paleas absent or to 2.6 mm; anthers absent or 1.4-1.6 mm; upper lemmas 4.3-4.8 mm, 5-veined; anthers 1.6-1.8 mm. 2n = 68.
Discussion
Pennisetum macrostachys is native to the South Pacific. It is grown in the Flora region as an ornamental species, being sold as 'Burgundy Giant'.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"decumbent" is not a number.