[Panicum verticillatum L.; Chaetochloa verticillata (L.) Scribner; Pennisetum verticillatum R. Br.]
(nat) Bristly foxtail, mau ‘u pilipili
Tufted annuals; culms (2-)3-10 dm tall, often geniculate and branching at lower nodes, glabrous except above near the panicles. Sheaths compressed-keeled, glabrous, the upper margins ciliate; ligule ciliate, 0.7-2 mm long; blades flat, 5-10(-13) mm wide, glabrous to scaberulous, sometimes sparsely pilose, margins scabrous. Panicles yellowish green to purple-tinged, densely flowered, cylindrical, (2—)4— 10(— 12) cm long, axis densely retrorsely hispidulous, primary branches short, verticillate, spikelets several to numerous per branch, subtended by 1(-2) bristle(s), the bristles 2-4.5(-6) mm long, retrorsely scabrous; glumes unequal, first glume broadly ovate, 0.5-0.7(-1.2) mm long, ca. xh as long as the spikelet, 1(-3)-nerved, apex obtuse, sometimes mu- cronate, second glume ovate, 1.6-2 mm long, slightly shorter than first lemma, 5-7- nerved, apex rounded; first lemma 1.5-2.4 mm long, 7-nerved, apex rounded; first palea small, membranous; second lemma ovate, 1.8-2.3 mm long, weakly 3-nerVed, finely transverse-rugose; second palea similar in texture to second lemma. Caryopsis pale brown, broadly ovoid, slightly dor- siventrally compressed, 1.2-1.5 mm long. [2n = 18, 20, 36, 54.] Native to Europe, now widely naturalized; in Hawai‘i naturalized and common in dry, disturbed areas, including coastal sites, along roadsides, urban areas, agricultural land, and kiawe forest, 0-820 m, on Kure, Midway, and Pearl & Hermes atolls, French Frigate Shoals, Nihoa, and all of the main islands. First collected on 0‘ahu in 1895 (Heller 1961, BISH).—Plate 235.