Common name: Buffel Grass
Cenchrus pennisetiformis Hochst. & Steud. ex Steud. APNI* Synonyms: Pennisetum pennisetiforme (Hochst. & Steud.) Wipff APNI*
Description: Tufted perennial to 0.8 m high.
Leaves with sheath compressed, keeled, margins ciliate; ligule reduced to a ciliate rim; blade 1–4 mm wide, flat to convolute, glabrous to pilose, scaberulous.
Panicle spike-like, dense to moderately loose, cylindrical, 2–10 cm long, main axis flexuous; bristles numerous, outer very slender and filiform, to 7 mm long, inner thickened and widened into a cup 1–3 mm long. Spikelets 2–5 per involucre, lanceolate to ovate, acute, 4–5.5 mm long. Lower glume 2–3 mm long, 1-nerved, or suppressed; upper 2–3.5 mm long, 1–3-nerved. Lower lemma male or sterile, subequal to spikelet, 5-nerved; palea subequal to lemma. Upper lemma bisexual, as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved; palea as long as lemma.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Planted on deep sandy soils on sandhills. Native of N Afr., Arabia & India.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC
Other Australian states: *Qld *W.A. *N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
