2. Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb. (syn.: Cenchrus flaccidus (Griseb.) Morrone) (As.) – Often planted as an ornamental grass nowadays and sometimes reproducing in the vicinity of gardens (or seen as a throw-out near gardens). First recorded with confidence in Hingene in 2000. Mostly ephemeral up to present. However, a population discovered in Overpelt in 2012 by a former railway track seems firmly established. In Poland it was recently shown that Pennisetum flaccidum is very frost and drought resistent and easily spreads clonally (Szczesniak 2011). Future invasive behaviour is likely. Recent German claims of Pennisetum centrasiaticum Tzvelev (Greuter & Raabe-Straube 2009) are referable to this species (comm. U. Amarell 2009).
Like Pennisetum alopecuroides this species belongs with section Gymnothrix, a complex of several closely related species that are easily confused. See under the former for distinguishing features and additional information. Pennisetum flaccidum also is a much earlier flowering species: while P. alopecuroides starts flowering in early autumn, P. flaccidum already flowers in summer. Primary bristles can be either plumose or glabrous.
Selected references:
Szczesniak E. (2011) Pennisetum flaccidum (Cenchrus flaccidus) (Poaceae) û new anthropophyte in flora of Poland. Fragmenta Floristica et Geobotanica / Polonica 18(2): 295-300.
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