PENNISETUM dichotomumDel. [family POACEAE], (1813), based on Panicum dichotomum Forssk. (1775) non L. (1753).
Information
Perennial with short woody rhizome; stems woody, suffruticosely branched throughout, up to 1(–2) m high; leaves tightly inrolled, pungent, glaucous; sheaths inflated, the lower readily shedding the short blade. Panicle oblong, 5–12 cm long; rhachis with shallowly angular ribs below the cupular scars, scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1 sessile spikelet, borne upon a short oblong stipe 0.5–1 mm long; bristles glabrous, rarely thinly hairy, the longest 7–20 mm. Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 6.5–8.5 mm long; lower glume 1/2–3/4 the length of the spikelet; upper glume almost as long as the spikelet; lemmas similar, the lower male.
Range
N1–3; C1 North Africa through South-west Asia to India.
