1、 Morphological characteristics

1. Rhizome: Pennisetum is a creeping herb, and the height of the upright part is between 8-37 cm. Most parts of the plant are densely pilose, and the color is white or purple. In addition, fibrous roots will grow near the stem nodes of the soil

2. Leaves: the leaves of Pennisetum are thin, round kidney shaped, 2.5-7 cm long and 3-8 cm wide. The surface is dark green, the back is light green, the shape is palm shaped, with 5-7 cracks, the lobes are triangular, and the edges are serrated

3. Flowers: the flowers of Pennisetum are umbels, usually axillary. There are 25-50 flowers on the inflorescence, and the involucral bracts are membranous and lanceolate in shape. Its flower buds are grass green, white after flowering, and its petals are membranous, with light yellow or purple brown spots on them

4. Fruit: the fruit of Pennisetum is round with a diameter of about 2mm. Its base is heart-shaped, flat on both sides, and there are obvious raised edges on the side. The surface is relatively smooth, with occasional folds, and the color is mostly yellow or purplish red

2、 Growth habit

Pennisetum is suitable for growing in a warm and humid environment. Generally, it should be raised in a shady place to avoid direct sunlight. It is usually grown in loose and fertile soil or hydroponic culture, and the water temperature should be controlled at 22-28 ℃. It is resistant to shade and humidity, and is also relatively drought resistant. It has strong adaptability, and its growth ability and reproductive ability are very good

3、 Distribution range

Tongqian grassland is produced in Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan, usually at an altitude of 1060-2900. It grows in rivers or wet places