Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone

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Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

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Synonyms:	Cenchrus spicatus (L.) Cav. Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb.
Common names:	Bulrush millet (English) Pearl millet (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Cultivated and naturalised
Description:	Annual grass up to 3 m high with leaves up to 1 m long and up to 7 cm wide. Inflorescence dense, globose or long linear and spike-like.
Type location:	Sri Lanka
Notes:	Frequently cultivated and appearing sporadically as a naturalised casual, often on roadsides.
Derivation of specific name:	americanus: American, a misleading name since the original parent species of this cultivated plants is either African or Asian.
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widely cultivated in Africa and India but origins uncertain.
FZ divisions:	Z,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 28. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 180. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 69. As Pennisetum typhoides Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 108. As Pennisetum glaucum Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 142. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 191.

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cenchrus americanus
African Plant Database: Cenchrus americanus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cenchrus americanus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cenchrus americanus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cenchrus americanus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cenchrus americanus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cenchrus americanus
JSTOR Plant Science: Cenchrus americanus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cenchrus americanus
Plants of the World Online: Cenchrus americanus
Tropicos: Cenchrus americanus
Wikipedia: Cenchrus americanus