Citation: L., Mant. Alt. 302 (1771).

Synonymy: Pennisetum ciliare (L.)Link, Hort. bot. Berol. 1:213 (1827). , Pennisetum cenchroides

Common name: Buffel grass, black buffel grass.

Description:
Perennial; culms ascending from a branched geniculate and often decumbent base, 30-40 cm high; leaf blades linear, tapering to a fine point, usually flat, 3-6 mm broad; ligule a ciliate rim.

Panicles dense, spike-like, cylindrical, 2-5 cm long, purplish or rarely pallid; bristles not spiny, in 2 series, the outer fine and scabrid (the projections pointing upwards), the inner dilated, thickened and more or less united at the base, plumose-ciliate towards the base; spikelets 1-3 in each involucre, 4-5 mm long.

Published illustration: Gardner (1952) Flora of Western Australia 1:pl. 82A-B; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 72.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, SE.   All mainland States.   Native to the Canary Islands, Africa, Asia and Madagascar. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: in all months.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available