Common name: Pearl Millet
Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone APNI* Synonyms: Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.f.) Stapf & C.E.Hubb. APNI*
Pennisetum americanum (L.) K.Schum. APNI*
Panicum americanum L. APNI*
Panicum glaucum L. APNI*
Setaria glauca (L.) P.Beauv. APNI*
Alopecurus typhoides Burm.f. APNI*
Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. APNI*
Description: Polymorphic annual to c. 3 m high, with few or no tillers.
Leaves with ligule a dense fringe of hairs; blade 9–50 mm wide, glabrous or hairy.
Panicle spike-like, dense, erect, 6–50 cm long, obscurely bristly, the bristles 25–70 in each involucre, slender, unequal, 4–7 mm long. Spikelets 1–7 per involucre, 3.5–5 mm long, pedicellate. Glumes hyaline or thinly membranous: lower 0.5–1.5 mm long, nerveless; upper 0.6–2.5 mm long, 0–3-nerved. Lower lemma male or sterile, 30–95% the length of the spikelet, obscurely 1–7-nerved; palea subequal to lemma. Upper lemma bisexual, frequently disarticulating from the rest of the spikelet at maturity, as long as the spikelet, 5–7-nerved; palea as long as the lemma.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Planted as a crop or windbreak and sometimes persisting. Probably native of Amer., Afr. & India.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *NT, *NWS, *SWS
Text by S.W.L. Jacobs & S.M. Hastings, as Pennisetum glaucum, fide Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
Taxon concept: Australian Plant Census (CHAH 2011)
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.
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