Cenchrus spinifex
Cenchrus echinatus
coastal sandbur, common sandbur
burgrass, common sandbur, field sandbur, konpeito-gusa, sandburr, se mbulabula, southern sandbur, vao tui tui
30-100 cm, geniculate.
20-100 cm, ascending from a geniculate base.
compressed, glabrous or sparsely pilose;
ligules 0.5-1.4 mm;
blades 3-28 cm long, (1)3-7.2 mm wide, glabrous or sparsely long-pilose adaxially.
from shorter than to equaling the internodes, compressed;
ligules 0.7-1.7 mm;
blades 4-18(35) cm long, 2-10(14.2) mm wide, adaxial surfaces sparsely pilose, hairs papillose-based.
3-5(8.5) cm;
fascicles 5.5-10.2 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide, imbricate, ovoid to globose, glabrous or sparesely to moderately pubescent;
outer bristles, when present, mostly flattened;
inner bristles 8-40 (rarely more), 2-5.8 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, fused at least 1/2 their length, forming a distinct cupule, the distal portions usually diverging from the cupule at multiple, irregular intervals, sometimes diverging at more or less the same level, ciliate at the base, pubescent, stramineous to mauve or purple, flattened.
2.5-12 cm;
rachis internodes 2-4 mm;
fascicles 5-10 mm long, 3.5-6(6.3) mm wide, imbricate;
outer bristles 10-20, terete, the majority no more than 1/2 as long as the inner bristles;
inner bristles 2-5 mm long, 0.6-1.5 mm wide, flattened, not grooved, mostly erect, fused for at least 1/2 their length into a globose cupule, sometimes interlocking at maturity, shortly pubescent, often purple at maturity.
2-4 per fascicle, 3.5-5.9 mm, glabrous.
2-3(4) per fascicle, 4.8-7 mm.
about 2.5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, ovoid.
ovoid, 1.2-3.2 mm long, 1.3-2.2 mm wide.
glumes 1-3.3 mm;
upper glumes (2.8)3.5-5 mm, 5-7-veined;
lower florets sometimes staminate;
lower lemmas 3-5(5.9) mm, 5-7-veined;
lower paleas sometimes reduced or absent;
anthers 1.3-1.6 mm;
upper lemmas 3.5-5(5.8) mm;
anthers 0.5-1.2 mm.
glumes 1.3-3.4 mm;
upper glumes 3.8-5.7 mm, 3-7-veined;
lower lemmas 4.5-6.5 mm;
upper florets 4.7-7 mm;
anthers 0.8-2.4 mm.
= 34 (32).
= (34), 68.
Cenchrus spinifex
Cenchrus echinatus
Cenchrus spinifex is common in sandy woods, fields, and waste places throughout the southern United States and southwards into South America. It may be more widespread than shown in the northern portion of the contiguous United States because it has often been confused with C. tribuloides. Cenchrus spinifex differs from C. tribuloides in its glabrous or less densely pubescent fascicles, narrower inner bristles, and larger number of bristles. It has also been confused with C. longispinus but differs in having shorter spikelets, fewer bristles overall, wider inner bristles, and outer bristles that are usually flattened rather than usually terete.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Cenchrus echinatus grows in disturbed areas throughout the coastal plain and piedmont of the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and, as an unwelcome introduction, elsewhere.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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