Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.

Map

Inflorescence

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Plant

Habit

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Landscape

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Description

Aggressively rhizomatous perennial, forming tufts of leaves from a scaly rhizome; culms 10–120 cm. high, erect. Leaf-blades basal, flat (in the tropics), 3–100 cm. long or more, 2–20 mm. wide, stiffly erect. Panicle spiciform, cylindrical but sometimes with the lowermost branches loose, 3–22 cm. long, obscured in copious silky white hairs. Spikelets 2.2–6 mm. long; stamens 2. Fig. 159.
(Description source: Clayton, W.D. & Renvoize, S.A. 1982. Flora of Tropical East Africa. Gramineae (Part 3). A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. 448 pp. )

Perennial, forming tufts of stiffly erect leaves from a scaly rhizome. Culms 10–120 cm high. Panicle 3–22 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, spiciform but occasionally the lowest branches loose. Spikelets 2.2–6 mm long, obscured in copious silky white hairs; stamens 2.
(Description source: Cope, T.A. (ed.). 2002. Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 10. Part 4. Kew, London. 190 pp. )

Culms (10)30-95(217) cm. Ligules 0.2-3.5 mm; blades to 150 cm long, (1)3-11(28) mm wide, linear-lanceolate, bases narrowed to the broad midrib, often with hairs on the margins. Panicles 5.7-22.3(52) cm, narrowly cylindrical; lower branches 1-3.2(7) cm, appressed. Callus hairs 9-16 mm; glumes 2.6-5.5 mm; lower lemmas 1.4-4.5 mm; upper lemmas (0.7)1.3-2.3(3.4) mm; stamens 2, filaments not dilated at the base; anthers (1.5)2.2-4.2 mm, orange to brown; styles 0.5-3.4 mm; stigmas 2.8-5.2(8.3) mm, purple to brown. 2n = 20, 40, 60.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp http://floranorthamerica.org/Imperata_cylindrica )