Plants perennial or annual; cespitose, more or less hairy throughout. Culms 3-100 cm; nodes hairy; internodes hollow. Sheaths open; ligules of hairs; microhairs of blades each with an elongated basal cell and an inflated terminal cell. Inflorescences terminal, spikelike to somewhat open panicles, bases often included within the uppermost leaf sheath; disarticulation above the glumes but not between the florets, florets falling as a unit. Spikelets with 3-6 florets, frequently only the lowest floret bisexual, distal florets progressively reduced. Glumes subequal, as long as or slightly shorter than the florets (including the awns), more or less pubescent; lower glumes 5-7-veined; lemmas firm, rounded on the backs, villous below the middle, strongly 9-veined, veins extending into equal, plumose awns 3-5 times as long as the lemma bodies and forming a pappuslike crown; paleas longer than the lemmas, entire, thinly membranous, 2-veined, 2-keeled, keels hairy; anthers 3, 0.2-1.5 mm; styles 2, free to the base, white, x = 10.
Distribution
Md., Colo., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Calif., Pacific Islands (Hawaii), Okla., Ariz., Nev.
Discussion
Enneapogon includes about 28 species. It is found in tropical and warm regions of the world, especially in Africa and Australia. Two species are found in the Flora region: one is native, and one is an introduction that has become established in the region.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Culms 50-100 cm tall, about 2 mm thick; panicles loosely contracted to somewhat open, up to 3 cm wide at maturity; plants annual | Enneapogon cenchroides |
| 1 | Culms 20-45 cm tall, up to 1 mm thick; panicles usually tightly cylindrical, rarely more than 1 cm wide; plants perennial | Enneapogon desvauxii |