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Pennisetum (From penna a feather and seta)

(from penna, a feather, and seta, a bristle; referring to the long, feathered bristles of the flower-spikes). Including Gymnothrix. ORD. Gramineae. A rather large genus (nearly forty species) of tropical and sub-tropical grasses, mostly African, and principally requiring greenhouse treatment. Spikelets two to four, in a simple spike, involucrate; bristles distinct, deciduous with the spikelet, the interior plumose below. Sterile glumes three, or two by abortion of the lowest, membranous. Many of the species are very ornamental, and well worth growing. They are usually annuals, and are of very easy culture in ordinary garden soil. Propagated by seeds. The following are desirable plants:

P. cenchroides (Cenchrus-like). fl., spikes 1in. to 3in. long; spikelets ascending, sessile, crowded, oblong, acute, 1/8in. long, densely plumose in the lower part. l. linear, acute, glabrous. Stems 1ft. to 2ft. long, ascending, branched. Warm regions of both hemispheres, 1777. Annual. P. compressum (compressed). fl. involucres nearly sessile, in a simple, cylindrical, dense spike of 3in. to 6in., consisting of numerous, very unequal bristles. l. long and narrow, glabrous, the ligula prominent. Stems 2ft. to 3ft. high, erect, scabrous, and more or less hirsute under the panicle. Australia, 1820 Annual.

P. latifolium (broad-leaved).* fl., inflorescence consisting of amentiform, nodding spikes. l. broad-lanceolate, spreading, bright green, with the broad median vein whitish; ligule short, hairy. Stems robust-growing, cane-like, attaining a height of from 9ft. to 10ft. Monte Video, 1869. A very ornamental perennial, forming handsome tufts. It may be grown in the open air during the summer months; the roots should be taken up at the approach of winter, and placed under cover. SYN. Gymnothrix latifolia. (R. H. 1869, 69.) P. longistylum (long-styled).* fl., inflorescence in spikes from 4in. to 6in. long, having a singularly twisted appearance, and enveloped in a feathery down of a purplish colour. August. l. narrow and gracefully arching. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Abyssinia. An elegant species, generally treated as a half-hardy annual. See Fig. 74.

P. setosum (bristly). fl., spikes purple, very dense, 6in. long; involucre of a dozen or more fine bristles, densely plumose in the lower part. l. linear, acute, glabrous or pilose. Stems 3ft. to 4ft. long. Tropical America, 1817. An erect perennial.