Common Names
Common Names in English:
African Fountain Grass, Dwarf Purple Fountain Grass, Fountain Grass, Fountaingrass, Purple Fountain Grass, Rose Fountain Grass, Rubrum Purple Fountain Grass, Tender Fountain Grass
Description
Family Poaceae
Annual
or perennial
herbs, or tall woody bamboos
. Flowering stems (culms
) jointed
, internodes hollow or solid; branches arising singly from nodes and subtended by a leaf sheath
and 2-keeled prophyll, often fascicled in bamboos. Leaves arranged alternately in 2 ranks
, differentiated into sheath, blade
, and an adaxial
erect
appendage
at sheath/blade junction (ligule) ; leaf sheath surrounding and supporting culm-internode, split to base
or infrequently tubular
with partially or completely fused margins
, modified with reduced blade in bamboos (culm sheaths) ; leaf blades divergent, usually long, narrow and flat, but varying from inrolled
and filiform
to ovate
, veins parallel, sometimes with cross-connecting veinlets
(especially in bamboos) ; ligule membranous or a line
of hairs
. Inflorescence terminal
or axillary
, an open, contracted
, or spikelike panicle, or composed of lax
to spikelike racemes
arranged along an elongate
central axis, or digitate, paired
, or occasionally solitary; axillary inflorescences often many, subtended by spatheoles
(specialized bladeless leaf sheaths) and gathered into a leafy compound
panicle; spikelets
often aggregated into complex
clusters
in bamboos. Spikelets composed of distichous bracts arranged along a slender axis (rachilla) ; typically 2 lowest bracts (glumes
) empty, subtending
1 to many florets
; glumes often poorly differentiated from accompanying bracts in bamboos. Florets composed of 2 opposing bracts enclosing a single small flower, outer bract (lemma) clasping
the more delicate, usually 2-keeled inner bract (palea) ; base of floret often with thickened prolongation articulated with rachilla (callus) ; lemma often with apical or dorsal bristle
(awn
), glumes also sometimes awned
. Flowers bisexual
or unisexual
; lodicules (small scales
representing perianth) 2, rarely 3 or absent, 3 to many in bamboos, hyaline
or fleshy
; stamens 3 rarely 1, 2, 6, or more in some bamboos, hypogynous, filaments
capillary
, anthers
versatile; ovary 1-celled, styles
(1 or) 2(rarely 3), free
or united
at base, topped by feathery stigmas, exserted from sides or apex of floret. Fruit normally a dry indehiscent caryopsis with thin pericarp firmly adherent
to seed, pericarp rarely free, fleshy in some bamboos; embryo small or large; hilum
punctate
to linear
.
About 700 genera and 11,000 species: widely distributed in all regions of the world.[1]
Genus Pennisetum
Annuals
or perennials
. Culms
tufted
or rhizomatous
, prostrate
to over 3 m
tall. Leaf blades
flat, folded or convolute; ligule a ciliate
membrane
. Inflorescence a spikelike panicle, cylindrical to subglobose; branches numerous
, contracted
into short clusters
of one or more spikelets
subtended by an involucre of bristles
; involucres sessile or with a short basal stipe, deciduous with the spikelets at maturity leaving peduncle
stumps
or scars
on the main axis; bristles slender, scabrous
, sometimes plumose
, simple
or very rarely branched, very unequal, outer shorter, often innermost stouter and conspicuously exceeding the rest. Spikelets usually lanceolate, dorsally
compressed
, herbaceous, acute or obtuse
, florets
2, glumes
and lower lemma variable; glumes often small and not exceeding 1/2 spikelet length; lower lemma staminate or neuter
, equaling spikelet or reduced; upper lemma equaling spikelet, herbaceous or indurated
, obtuse to acute. x = 9.
About 80 species: throughout the tropics; 11 species (four endemic, four introduced
) in China.
Pennisetum is a large and variable genus, but the bristly
, spikelike inflorescence is always readily recognizable. The only other panicoid genus with a similar bristly inflorescence is Setaria, but in that genus the bristles are not deciduous with the spikelets, instead remaining on the rachis at maturity. The bristles are derived from reduced panicle branches.
Many species provide good forage
. Several species, including Pennisetum glaucum in China, are used for food.[2]
Physical Description
Habit: Clumping
Flowers: Red flowers. • Bloom Period: April, May, June, July, August, September. • Flower Color: black, dark purple, maroon, purple, red • Flower Conspicuous: Fuzzy plumes on arching stems
Foliage: Flat or rolled, rough textured • Foliage Shape: Linear • Normal foliage color: Purple • Underside foliage: Purple • Juvenile foliage: Purple • Mature foliage: Purple • New foliage: Purple • Spring foliage: Purple • Summer foliage: Purple • Fall foliage: Purple
Size/Age/Growth
Growth Rate: Moderate. • Size: to 2 to 4 ft . tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide.
Landscaping
Care: Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance , remove old foliage before new leaves emerge . Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring .
Biology
Growth
Culture: Space 15-18" apart.
Soil: Minimum pH: 6.6 • Maximum pH: 7.5
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full sun
Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High • Water Requirements: Once established needs only occasional water.
Temperature: Heat Zones: High: 12 (>210 days) Low:8 (>90 to 120 days) (map) • Cold Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Plantae
()
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
()
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
()
- Sinnott, 1935 Ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Vascular Plants
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
()
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
()
- Kenrick & Crane, 1997
- Class:
Liliopsida
()
- Scopoli, 1760
- Subclass:
Commelinidae
()
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Superorder:
Poanae
()
- (Small, 1903) Takhtajan, 1997 Ex Reveal & Doweld, 1999
- Order:
Poales
()
- Small, 1903
- Family:
Poaceae
()
- (R. Brown) Barnhart, 1895
- Grass Family
- Subfamily:
Panicoideae
()
- Tribe:
Theeae
()
- Genus:
Pennisetum
()
- Richard, Syn. Pl. 1: 72. 1805.
- Fountaingrass
- Specific epithet:
setaceum
- Cultivar:
Rubrum
- Botanical name: - Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
- Cultivar:
Rubrum
- Specific epithet:
setaceum
- Genus:
Pennisetum
(
- Tribe:
Theeae
(
- Subfamily:
Panicoideae
(
- Family:
Poaceae
(
- Order:
Poales
(
- Superorder:
Poanae
(
- Subclass:
Commelinidae
(
- Class:
Liliopsida
(
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Notes
An accepted name in the RHS Horticultural Database.
Similar Species
Members of the genus Pennisetum
There are approximately 357 species in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:
P. adoense · P. advena (Foreign Fountaingrass) · P. alapecuroides · P. albicauda · P. alopecuroides (Chinese Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides black · P. alopecuroides 'Black Beauty' · P. alopecuroides 'Bruno Ears' · P. alopecuroides 'Cassian's Choice' · P. alopecuroides 'Cassian' (Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Caudatum' · P. alopecuroides f. erythrochaetum 'Ferris' · P. alopecuroides f. viridescens · P. alopecuroides 'Foxtrot' (Foxtrot Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Fox Trot' (Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Hameln' (Hameln Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Herbstzauber' · P. alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' (Little Bunny Dwarf Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Little Honey' (Dwarf Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Little Richie' · P. alopecuroides 'Magic' · P. alopecuroides 'Moudry' (Black Flowering Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'National Arboretum' (National Arboretum Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Redhead' · P. alopecuroides 'Red Head' · P. alopecuroides var. albiflorum · P. alopecuroides var. Hamelin (Chinese Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides var. purpurascens · P. alopecuroides var. viridescens (Black-Flowered Fountain Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Weserbergland' (Ornamental Grass) · P. alopecuroides 'Woodside' · P. alopecuros · P. americanum · P. americanum 'Civt' · P. americanum americanum · P. amethystinum · P. amoenum · P. ancylochaete · P. angolense · P. angustifolium · P. annuum · P. antillarum · P. araneosum · P. arnhemicum · P. articulare · P. arvense · P. asperifolium · P. asperum · P. atrichum · P. aureum · P. bambusiforme · P. baojiense · P. barbatum · P. barteri · P. basedowii · P. beckeroides · P. benthami · P. blepharideum · P. borbonicum · P. brachystachyum · P. breve · P. breviflorum · P. caffrum · P. calyculatum · P. caninum · P. carneum · P. catabasis · P. cauda-ratti · P. caudatum (White Flowering Fountain Grass) · P. cenchroides · P. centrasiaticum · P. cereale · P. chevalieri · P. chilense · P. chudeaui · P. ciliare (African Foxtail Grass) · P. ciliares · P. ciliare var. ciliare (Buffelgrass) · P. ciliare var. setigerum (Cow Sandbur) · P. ciliatum · P. cinereum · P. cladestinum · P. clandestinum (Kikuyugrass Pennisetum Clandestinum) · P. cognatum · P. complanatum (Nicaraguan Fountaingrass) · P. compressum · P. corrugatum · P. crinitum · P. crus-galli · P. cupreum · P. cylindricum · P. cynosuroides · P. dalzielii · P. darfuricum · P. dasistachyum · P. dasystachyum · P. davyi · P. densiflorum · P. depauperatum · P. dichotomum
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- Chen Shouliang, Jin Yuexing, Zhuang Tide, Fang Wenzhe, Sheng Guoying, Liu Liang, Wu Zhenlan, Lu Shenglian, Sun Bisin, Hu Zhihao, Wang Song, Sun Xiangzhong, Wang Huiqin, Yang Xilin, Wang Chaopin, Li Binggui & Wen Shaobin. 1990. Gramineae (Poaceae) (4). In: Chen Shouliang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 10(1):1401
- Chen Shouliang, Zhuang Tide, Fang Wenzhe, Sheng Guoying, Jin Yuexing, Liu Liang, Sun Bisin, Hu Zhihao & Wang Song. 1997. Gramineae (Poaceae) (5). In: Chen Shouliang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 10(2): 1301
- Liu Liang, Zhu Taiping, Chen Wenli, Wu Zhenlan & Lu Shenglian. Gramineae (Poaceae) (2). In: Liu Liang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 9(2): 1405
- Lu Sheng-lian, Sun Yong-hua, Liu Shang-wu, Yang Yong-chang, Wu Zhen-lan, Kuo Pen-chao, Yang Hsi-ling, Wang Chao-pin & Tsui Nai-ran. 1987. Gramineae (3). In: Kuo Pen-chao, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 9(3): 1329
- Wang Zhengping, Ye Guanghan, Yang Yaling, Yu Zehua, Hu Chenhua, Geng Bojie, Feng Xuelin, Jia Liangzhi, Xia Nianhe, Li Dezhu, Zhang Weiping, Xue Jiru, Zhu Zhengde, Zhao Qiseng, Chen Shouliang, Sheng Guoying, Chen Shaoyun, Yao Changyu, Lu Jionglin, Sun Jiliang, Lin Wantao, Yi Tongpei, Zhao Huiru, Wen Taihui & Dai Qihui. 1996. Gramineae (Poaceae) (1).
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed October 6, 2006.
Identifiers
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 405340
Footnotes
- Shou-liang Chen, De-Zhu Li, Guanghua Zhu, Zhenlan Wu, Sheng-lian Lu, Liang Liu, Zheng-ping Wang, Bi-xing Sun, Zheng-de Zhu, Nianhe Xia, Liang-zhi Jia, Zhenhua Guo, Wenli Chen, Xiang Chen, Yang Guangyao, Sylvia M. Phillips, Chris Stapleton, Robert J. Soreng, Susan G. Aiken, Nikolai N. Tzvelev, Paul M. Peterson, Stephen A. Renvoize, Marina V. Olonova & Klaus Ammann "Poaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 22. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- Shou-liang Chen & Sylvia M. Phillips "Pennisetum". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 1, 499, 548, 553. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
