🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cenchrus polystachios (L.) Morrone |
| synonym | Cenchrus retusus Sw. |
| synonym | Cenchrus setosus Sw. |
| synonym | Gymnotrix geniculata Schult. |
| synonym | Gymnotrix polystachya (L.) Sw. ex Trin. |
| synonym | Gymnotrix ramosa Hochst. |
| synonym | Panicum alopecuros Lam. |
| synonym | Panicum barbatum Roxb. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Panicum cauda-ratti Schumach. |
| synonym | Panicum cenchroides Rich. |
| synonym | Panicum densispica Poir. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Panicum dentispica Kunth [Spelling variant] |
| synonym | Panicum erubescens Willd. |
| synonym | Panicum holcoides Roxb. |
| synonym | Panicum longisetum Poir. |
| synonym | Panicum polystachion L. |
| synonym | Panicum subangustum Schumach. |
| synonym | Panicum triticoides Poir. |
| synonym | Pennisetum alopecuroides Ham. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Pennisetum amethystinum P.Beauv. [Invalid] |
| synonym | Pennisetum arvense Pilg. |
| synonym | Pennisetum barbatum Schult. |
| synonym | Pennisetum borbonicum Kunth |
| synonym | Pennisetum breve Nees |
| synonym | Pennisetum cauda-ratti (Schumach.) Franch. |
| synonym | Pennisetum ciliares Hook.f. [Invalid] |
| synonym | Pennisetum ciliatum Parl. ex Webb |
| synonym | Pennisetum dasystachyum Desv. |
| synonym | Pennisetum erubescens (Willd.) Desv. ex Ham. |
| synonym | Pennisetum flavescens J.Presl |
| synonym | Pennisetum gabonense Franch. |
| synonym | Pennisetum gracile Benth. |
| synonym | Pennisetum hamiltonii Steud. |
| synonym | Pennisetum hirsutum Nees |
| synonym | Pennisetum holcoides (Roxb.) Schult. |
| synonym | Pennisetum myurus Parl. |
| synonym | Pennisetum nicaraguense E.Fourn. |
| synonym | Pennisetum ovale Rupr. ex Steud. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Pennisetum pallidum Nees |
| synonym | Pennisetum polystachion f. viviparum Fosberg & Sachet |
| synonym | Pennisetum polystachion subsp. polystachion |
| synonym | Pennisetum polystachion subsp. setosum (Sw.) Brunken |
| synonym | Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf. |
| synonym | Pennisetum reversum Hack. |
| synonym | Pennisetum richardii Kunth |
| synonym | Pennisetum setosum (Sw.) Rich. |
| synonym | Pennisetum setosum var. breve (Nees) Döll |
| synonym | Pennisetum sieberi Kunth |
| synonym | Pennisetum stenostachyum Peter |
| synonym | Pennisetum subangustum (Schumach.) Stapf & C.E.Hubb. |
| synonym | Pennisetum tenuispiculatum Steud. |
| synonym | Pennisetum triticoides (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. |
| synonym | Pennisetum uniflorum Kunth |
| synonym | Setaria cenchroides (Rich.) Roem. & Schult. |
| synonym | Setaria erubescens (Willd.) P.Beauv. |
| synonym | Setaria geniculata Sieber ex Kunth [Invalid] |
🗒 Common Names
| Créole Seychelles |
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| English |
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| Malgache |
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| Other |
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📚 Overview
Description
Global description
Pennisetum polystachion is an herbaceous tufted plant, more or less important, 60 to 150 cm high. The leaves are linear lanceolate. The ligule is membrane-ciliated. The inflorescence is a terminal spike, 3 cm in diameter, with woolly appearance, silvery to dark pink in colour.
First leaves
The first leaves have a rolled prefoliation. The lamina is lanceolate, 2 to 5 cm long and 9 to 12 mm wide. It is spread. The ligule is membrane ciliated. The sheath is covered with bristles, 2 mm long, especially near the ligule. The midrib forms a slightly marked groove. The young leaves are often tinged with purple at the base.
General habit
Thick tufted plant. It generally has a high tillering. It measures up to 150 cm high.
Underground system
Roots are fasciculate
Culm
The culm is cylindrical and glabrous. It is robust at the base, 2 to 4 mm large, greenish, often tinted with purple at the base. The nodes are glabrous and light in color.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate, simple. The sheath is glabrous. It is cylindrical and has a slightly marked, rounded keel. It is often tinged with purple. The ligule is membrane- ciliated, 1 mm high. The lamina is linear to lanceolate, with acute apex. It is obliquely erect and flat. The midrib forms a very prominent groove, with a triangular section. The lamina is 10 to 45 cm long and 5 to 12 mm wide. The margin and the upper face are scabrous. Both sides of the leaf blade is more or less covered with long tuberculate hairs.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is a highly contracted cylindrical panicle, having the appearance of a terminal spike, 5 to 20 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide. The rachis is angular, with protruding ribs under the involucres of bristle. Each involucre surrounds a single, sessile spikelet. The bristles of the involucre are filiform, 0.5 to 10 mm long and generally purple in color. The longest can measure up to 30 mm. The terminal part of the bracts is scabrous and the basal part is entangled with woolly hairs.
Spikelet
The spikelets are lanceolate fusiform, 4 to 5 mm long. They consist of 2 flowers; the internal is male or sterile, the external fertile. The lower glume is lanceolate and is less than half the length of the spikelet. The upper glume and the lemma of the internal flower are as long as the spikelet. They are trifid at the top; the upper glume is slightly apiculate. The glumes and lower lemma are membranous and glabrous. Lemma of the upper flower is hard, smooth and shiny. It measures 2 mm long. Its edges are partially closed on the palea, of the same nature. At maturity, the whole of the involucre is detached from the rachis.
Grain
The grain is fusiform, 1.5 to 2.5 mm long and is included in the palea and lemma.
First leaves
The first leaves have a rolled prefoliation. The lamina is lanceolate, 2 to 5 cm long and 9 to 12 mm wide. It is spread. The ligule is membrane ciliated. The sheath is covered with bristles, 2 mm long, especially near the ligule. The midrib forms a slightly marked groove. The young leaves are often tinged with purple at the base.
General habit
Thick tufted plant. It generally has a high tillering. It measures up to 150 cm high.
Underground system
Roots are fasciculate
Culm
The culm is cylindrical and glabrous. It is robust at the base, 2 to 4 mm large, greenish, often tinted with purple at the base. The nodes are glabrous and light in color.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate, simple. The sheath is glabrous. It is cylindrical and has a slightly marked, rounded keel. It is often tinged with purple. The ligule is membrane- ciliated, 1 mm high. The lamina is linear to lanceolate, with acute apex. It is obliquely erect and flat. The midrib forms a very prominent groove, with a triangular section. The lamina is 10 to 45 cm long and 5 to 12 mm wide. The margin and the upper face are scabrous. Both sides of the leaf blade is more or less covered with long tuberculate hairs.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is a highly contracted cylindrical panicle, having the appearance of a terminal spike, 5 to 20 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide. The rachis is angular, with protruding ribs under the involucres of bristle. Each involucre surrounds a single, sessile spikelet. The bristles of the involucre are filiform, 0.5 to 10 mm long and generally purple in color. The longest can measure up to 30 mm. The terminal part of the bracts is scabrous and the basal part is entangled with woolly hairs.
Spikelet
The spikelets are lanceolate fusiform, 4 to 5 mm long. They consist of 2 flowers; the internal is male or sterile, the external fertile. The lower glume is lanceolate and is less than half the length of the spikelet. The upper glume and the lemma of the internal flower are as long as the spikelet. They are trifid at the top; the upper glume is slightly apiculate. The glumes and lower lemma are membranous and glabrous. Lemma of the upper flower is hard, smooth and shiny. It measures 2 mm long. Its edges are partially closed on the palea, of the same nature. At maturity, the whole of the involucre is detached from the rachis.
Grain
The grain is fusiform, 1.5 to 2.5 mm long and is included in the palea and lemma.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
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Northern Cameroon: Pennisetum polystachion germination period begins in April with the first rains and lasts until the end of May. Early plowing carried out in May are followed by new sprouts until June. When plowing is done late (late June), the new levies are rare. However, regrowth of wrongly buried tufts are very common and easily participate in the invasion of the plot. The growing season is long and inflorescences appear as from August or even late September for individuals emerging belatedly. Fruiting and dissemination take place from October to early December until the plant dries out early in the dry season.
Mayotte: Pennisetum polystachion flowers from April to October and fruits from May to November.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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Reproduction
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Pennisetum polystachion is an annual species that multiplies only by seed.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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Morphology
Growth form
Tuft plant with narrow leaves
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Grass or grass-like
Grass-like leaf type
Grass leaf
Type of prefoliation
Rolled leaf
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Round
Root type
Fibrous roots
Ligule type
Ligule membranous and short ciliate
Ligule membranous and short ciliate with hairs around the ligule
Hollow or solid stem
Hollow stem
Stipule type
No stipule
Leaf attachment type
with graminate sheathing
Fruit type
Grain of grasses
Lamina base
cordate
Lamina margin
ciliate
scabrous
Lamina apex
attenuate
Upperface pilosity
Less hairy
Dense hairy
Upperface hair type
Scabrous
Hairs with glandulous base
Lowerface pilosity
Dense hairy
Less hairy
Simple leaf type
Lamina linear
Lamina section
flat
Lamina Veination
Parallel
Flower color
Purple
Green
Inflorescence type
Spike
Stem pilosity
Glabrous
Life form
Grass
Look Alikes
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Pennisetum polystachion differs from P. pedicellatum by its involucres which comprises of a single sessile and totally glabrous spikelet.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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Ecology
Northern Cameroon: Pennisetum polystachion is a species that grows from the Sahel-Sudanese regions to Sudanese regions and into Guinean forests and savannas. The Sahelo-Sudanese savannahs form the northern limit of distribution of this species, more frequent and more abundant in moist area. When the climate or the soil becomes drier, from Sudanese regions to the Sahel-Sudanese regions, P. polystachion is gradually replaced by P. pedicellatum. P. polystachion is a ruderal species present along roads and abundant in young fallows where it is one of the main components of the plant cover. This is also a very common weed in cultivated fields. It grows mainly on sandy clay silt, well-structured and humid soil like planosols and alluvial soils. This species is a good ecological indicator of fertile soil, used by farmers to identify, during the clearing, areas favorable for corn.
Comoros: This plant is common in loose soil, in meadows of medium altitude and in old cultures.
Madagascar: Common species in all climatic regions of Madagascar except South sub arid, as ruderal species and weed of cultures on deep soils of good fertility and good drainage. It is a species of middle or end of cycle.
Mauritius: Species whose presence on the island is uncertain.
Mayotte: Pennisetum polystachion is a native species, very common in secondarized environments. It is found along forest paths, in agroforests, in ditches, crops and villages in hygrophilous and mesophilous regions. It is also found in the fresh stations of the xerophilous and littoral regions.
Reunion: Species of dry savannah, grass of the west coast of the island.
Seychelles: Species infrequent.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Reunion Island
Comoros
Mauritius
Seychelles
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Worldwide distribution
Pennisetum polystachion is widespread in all tropical regions.Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
Local harmfulness
Northern Cameroon: Pennisetum polystachion is a general potential weed present in over 50% of cultivated land and often abundantly. The tufts of P. polystachion quickly become very strong, and are not affected by late plowing who fail to return them and to bury them properly. It is an important weed of intensive and late crops as pre-emergent herbicides are ineffective against individuals already in place and the contact herbicides have little effectiveness. The base of the tufts being more or less covered with soil after plowing, the herbicide is sprayed only on the top of the leaves and fails to kill the plant rapidly emits new leaves. P. polystachion and P. pedicellatum occur regularly in combination in the same plots.
Comoros: This species is common in abandoned fields and makes recultivation difficult in these medium
Madagascar: relatively low frequency species but locally abundant and very harmful for cassava, upland rice or cotton.
Mauritius:It is not present in crops.
Reunion: unrecorded species in culture.
Seychelles: A weed rare in culture.
Comoros: This species is common in abandoned fields and makes recultivation difficult in these medium
Madagascar: relatively low frequency species but locally abundant and very harmful for cassava, upland rice or cotton.
Mauritius:It is not present in crops.
Reunion: unrecorded species in culture.
Seychelles: A weed rare in culture.
Wiktrop
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| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Management
Madagascar: Generally rare in cultivated plots, Pennisetum polystachion can be removed by weeding. Chemical control possible with atrazine, withpendimethalin or diuron for pre-emergence, to fenoxaprop-ethyl or fluazifop-p-butyl for post-emergence on young plants. Only glyphosate is effective on older plants.
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
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No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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References
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 687 p.
- https://www.feedipedia.org/node/400
- Donfack P., 1993. Etude de la dynamique de la végétation après abandon de la culture au Nord-Cameroun. Thèse Dc. 3ème cycle , Faculté des sciences, Univ. de Yaoundé, Cameroun, 192p.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois and H. Merlier (2010). Adventrop V.1.5 Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V. & Herberger J. P., 1977. The World's Worst Weeds : Distribution and Biologie. East-West Center, University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 609p.
- Husson, O., H. Charpentier, F.-X. Chabaud, K. Naudin, Rakotondramanana et L. Séguy (2010). Flore des jachères et adventices des cultures. Annexe 1 : les principales plantes de jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar. In : Manuel pratique du semis direct à Madagascar. Annexe 1 - Antananarivo : GSDM/CIRAD, 2010 : 64 p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad. 640 pp.
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales.
- ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1983. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 2, Gramineae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 66p.
- Zon van der A.P.M., 1992. Graminées du Cameroun, Vol. II, Flore. Wageningen Agric. Univ. Papers 92 - 1, Wageningen, 557p.
- Akobundu I.O. & Agyakwa C.W., 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale. Ibadan, Nigeria, 521p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Stanfield D.P., 1970. The flora of Nigeria, Grasses. Stanfield and Lowe ed., Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, Nigeria, 118p.
Information Listing > References
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 687 p.
- https://www.feedipedia.org/node/400
- Donfack P., 1993. Etude de la dynamique de la végétation après abandon de la culture au Nord-Cameroun. Thèse Dc. 3ème cycle , Faculté des sciences, Univ. de Yaoundé, Cameroun, 192p.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois and H. Merlier (2010). Adventrop V.1.5 Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V. & Herberger J. P., 1977. The World's Worst Weeds : Distribution and Biologie. East-West Center, University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 609p.
- Husson, O., H. Charpentier, F.-X. Chabaud, K. Naudin, Rakotondramanana et L. Séguy (2010). Flore des jachères et adventices des cultures. Annexe 1 : les principales plantes de jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar. In : Manuel pratique du semis direct à Madagascar. Annexe 1 - Antananarivo : GSDM/CIRAD, 2010 : 64 p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad. 640 pp.
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales.
- ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1983. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 2, Gramineae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 66p.
- Zon van der A.P.M., 1992. Graminées du Cameroun, Vol. II, Flore. Wageningen Agric. Univ. Papers 92 - 1, Wageningen, 557p.
- Akobundu I.O. & Agyakwa C.W., 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale. Ibadan, Nigeria, 521p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Stanfield D.P., 1970. The flora of Nigeria, Grasses. Stanfield and Lowe ed., Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, Nigeria, 118p.
Images
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Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Pennisetum%2520polystachion
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Pennisetum |
| Species | Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
