Contains 7 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Cenchrus has recently been circumscribed to include Pennisetum (Chemisquy et al. 2010).
Classification
Citation
CENCHRUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1049. 1753.
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TYPE: Cenchrus echinatus Linnaeus Lectotypified by Nash, in Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 166. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cenchrus americanus | Pearl Millet | |||
| Cenchrus echinatus | Southern Sandspur, Bristly Sandspur, Hedgehog Grass | |||
| Cenchrus longispinus | Northern Sandspur, Common Sandspur | |||
| Cenchrus myosuroides | Big Sandbur | |||
| Cenchrus setaceus | Fountaingrass, Tender Fountaingrass | |||
| Cenchrus spinifex | Coastal Sandspur | |||
| Cenchrus tribuloides | Dune Sandspur |
Identification Key
1. Spikelets subtended by hardened, retrorsely scabrid, spinose bristles; plants <1 m tall
2
1. Spikletes subtended by soft, plumose or antrorsely scabrid bristles (if spinose, then antrorsely scabrid); plants 0.5-8 m tall (former Pennisetum)
8
2. Bristles all terete
2. Inner bristles flattened, at least at the base
3
3. Outer bristles terete, slender, whorled
4
3. All bristles flattened
5
4. Rachis internodes 0.8-1.7 mm long; most outer bristles subequal to slightly exceeding the inner ones; mature bur body 2.7-4.2 mm wide (excluding bristles), 4-5.3 mm long
4. Rachis internodes 2-4 mm long; most outer bristles reaching near the middle of the inner ones; mature bur body 4.1-6.3 mm wide (excluding bristles), 5.3-8 mm long
5. Leaf blades 1-3.5 mm wide; rachis internodes 2-4 mm long; spikelet glabrate
5. Leaf blades (1)3-14.2 mm wide; rachis internodes <2 mm long; spikelet pubescent, sometimes glabrate
6
6. Fascicles with 45-75 bristles, the innner 0.5-0.9(1.4) mm wide at base
6. Fascicles with 8-43 brisltes, the innter 1-3 mm wide at base
7
7. Fascicles 5.5-10.2 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide, glabrate to moderately pubescent; inner bristles 2-5.8 mm long
7. Fascicles 9-16 mm long, 4-8 mm wide, densely pubescent, the inner bristles 4-8 mm long
8. Leaf blades 2-3.5 mm wide, folded or involute
8. Leaf blades (2)3.5-12 mm wide, flat
9
9. Panicles 4-200 cm long; fascicles not disarticulating from the rachis; bristles subequal to the spikelets, to 6 mm long; upper lemma margins pubescent; caryopses protruding from the florets at maturity
9. Panicles 2-37.5 cm long; fascicles disarticulating from the rachis at maturity; some bristles longer than the spikelets, to 35 mm long; upper lemma margins glabrous; caryopses concealed by the lemmas and paleas at maturity
10
10. Upper lemma smooth, lustrous, differentiated from the lower lemma; upper florets disarticulating
11
10. Upper and lower lemma similar; upper florets not disarticulating
12
11. Fascicles with 40-90 long-ciliate inner bristles and 10-20 scabrous outer bristles; fascicle axes 1.5-2.5 mm long; spikelets pedicellate, pedicels 1-3.5 mm long
11. Fascicles with 6-14 long-ciliate inner bristles and 13-30 scabrous outer bristles; fascicle axes 0.2-0.5 mm long; spikelets sessile
12. Lower portion of the rachises scabrous; inner bristles fused at the base
12. Lower portion of the rachises pubescent; inner bristles not fused
14
13. Culms 0.5-1.5 m tall, internodes not glaucous; leaf blades 6-11 mm wide, usually reddish or purplish; lower glume 0.5-1 mm long
13. Culms (1)2-8 m tall, internodes often partly glaucous; leaf blades (4)12-40 mm wide, usually green; lower glume 0-0.3 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||