Cenchrus echinatus is a species of grass known by the common names southern sandbur,[3] spiny sandbur,[4] southern sandspur, and in Australia, Mossman River grass.[5][6] It is native to North and South America. It is a clump-forming annual grass growing up to 80 cm (31 in) tall. The leaves occur with or without hairs and measure up to 12 mm (0.47 in) wide. The ligule is a fringe of hairs. The grass has barbed burrs of 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long.

Cenchrus echinatus
On Kure Atoll
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Cenchrus
Species:
C. echinatus
Binomial name
Cenchrus echinatus
Synonyms[2]
  • Cenchrus cavanillesii Tausch
  • Panicastrella muricata Moench
  • Cenchrus brevisetus E.Fourn. ex Hemsl.
  • Cenchrus crinitus Mez
  • Cenchrus hillebrandianus Hitchc.
  • Cenchrus insularis Scribn.
  • Cenchrus pungens Kunth

In Australia it forms an invasive weed in coastal situations.[6]

Ecology edit

The species is invasive in New Caledonia,[7] Tahiti, and Rarotonga.[8]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bárrios, S. & Copeland, A. (2021). "Cenchrus echinatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13506981A192150221. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Cenchrus echinatus". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Cenchrus echinatus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  4. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ "University of Florida IFAS Extension Southern Sandspur (Southern Sandbur), Cenchrus echinatus L." Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  6. ^ a b Cenchrus echinatus. Archived September 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine National Weeds Strategy.
  7. ^ Hequet, Vanessa (2009). LES ESPÈCES EXOTIQUES ENVAHISSANTES DE NOUVELLE-CALÉDONIE (PDF) (in French). p. 17.
  8. ^ "Piri-Piri ~ Piripiri". Te Māra Reo: The Language Garden. Benton Family Trust. 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.