Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 106: 127 (2010) as per POWO;
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Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov., Annuario Reale Ist. Bot. Roma 8: 41 1903. (Syn: Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone; Pennisetum inclusum Pilg.; Pennisetum longistylum var. clandestinum (Chiov.) Leeke;                         (≡) Kikuyuochloa clandestina (Hochst. ex Chiov.) H. Scholz);
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Eritrea to S. Tropical Africa: Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaïre, Zimbabwe; Introduced into: Argentina Northeast, Azores, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, California, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Chile Central, Chile North, China South-Central, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Desventurados Is., Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Easter Is., Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jawa, Kriti, KwaZulu-Natal, Leeward Is., Madagascar, Madeira, Malaya, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Morocco, Namibia, New Guinea, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Palestine, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Rodrigues, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, South Australia, Sri Lanka, St.Helena, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tasmania, Tristan da Cunha, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Victoria, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Yemen as per POWO;
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Common name: Kikuyu Grass
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Culms densely tufted, matty, prostrate, and stoloniferous, to 3(15)cm. Leaf-blades involute or flat, 1.5-5(12) x 0.2-0.4(0.6) cm., glabrescent, scaberulous on margins; ligule a rim of dense cilia, to 0.15 cm. Plants dioecious. Racemes of 2-4-spikelets, enclosed almost completely by uppermost leaf-sheaths. Spikelets linear-lanceolate, to 1.5 cm; terminal spikelets pedicelled, others(sub)sessile; involucral bristles unequal, to 1.2 cm, scabrid. Lower glume minute, to 0.05 cm; upper glume ovate-acuminate, to 0.8 cm, membranous; lower lemma lanceolate, to 1.5 cm, membranous, epaleate. Upper lemma similar to lower lemma, to 1.3 cm; palea linear-lanceolate, to 1.2 cm. Style long-exserted, to 4 cm. Stamens 3; filaments to 3 cm.

Grown as fodder/lawn grass
Native of East Africa

The tropical grass species Pennisetum clandestinum is known by several common names, most often kikuyu grass, as it is native to the region of East Africa that is home to the Kĩkũyũ tribe.
Because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature, it is categorised as a noxious weed in some regions.[1][2]
However, it is also a popular garden lawn species in Australia, South Africa and Southern California because it is inexpensive and drought-tolerant. In addition, it is useful as pasture for livestock grazing and serves as a food source for many avian species, including the Long-tailed Widowbird.[3]
The flowering culms are very short and “hidden” amongst the leaves, giving this species its specific epithet (clandestinum).
Pennisetum clandestinum is a rhizomatous grass with matted roots and a grass-like or herbaceous habit. The leaves are green, flattened or upwardly folded along the midrib, 10-150 millimetres long, and 1-5 mm wide. The apex of the leaf blade is obtuse.[4] It occurs in sandy soil and reaches a height of between 70 to 150 millimetres. The species favours moist areas and frequently becomes naturalised from introduction as a cultivated alien.[5] Rooted nodes send up bunches of grass blades.
It is native to the low-elevation tropics of Kenya and environs, where it grows best in humid heat, such as the wet coastal areas.
(From Wikipedia on 19.9.13)
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Flora of Chakrata 2013- Grass for id :  Attachments (7). 6 posts by 3 authors.
This small herb was shot from the area.. male and female flowers borne on separate plants..
I hope this is a Grass.. please provide id help..

It is Pennisetum clandestinum an introduced grass, native of Africa (see Bor, 1960).
Very interesting clandestine spikelets which seldom flowers. Interesting photos. 


Thanks a lot … this is very quick id of an unusual grass …


Penisetum clandestinum



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Pennisetum clandestinum from Uttarakhand: Aug_DSR_1 :  1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2).
Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov. (=Cenchrus clandestinus) is a striking grass when flowering. The stamens are very long and exserted.
It is an introduced grass and have naturalized in some temperate areas of Uttarakhand making compact carpets.
Here photographed near Kalamuni, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand).

 

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