Pennisetum

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of flowering plants in the grass family, typically known for their feathery flower spikes
2. Commonly cultivated as ornamental grasses in gardens due to their attractive appearance and drought-resistant qualities
3. This category includes various species, often used in landscaping for their flowing form and ornamental value

Etymology: Pennisetum is a genus of grasses, including fountain grass and the pearl millet, and its name is a Latin-based coinage rather than an ancient word. It was formed from Latin "penna", meaning feather or plume, and "seta", meaning bristle or hair, and describes the feathery, bristly flower spikes that these grasses produce. The name was given by the French botanist Louis Claude Richard, who published it in the early nineteenth century, so no ancient Roman ever used it. Because the genus is a modern scientific name, it follows the conventions of botanical Latin, where classical roots are combined to describe a plant's visible features. The same pattern appears in many other grass and plant names, which is why the term reads as Latin even though it was assembled by a naturalist.

Synonyms: fountain grass