Contains 13 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 advena | PURPLE FOUNTAINGRASS | Not Native | ||
| Cenchrus americanus | PEARL MILLET; AMERICAN FOUNTAINGRASS | Not Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus brownii | SLIMBRISTLE SANDBUR | Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus ciliaris | BUFFELGRASS | Not Native UPL (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus echinatus | SOUTHERN SANDBUR | Native UPL (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus gracillimus | SLENDER SANDBUR | Native | ||
| Cenchrus myosuroides | BIG SANDBUR | Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus pedicellatus | KYASUMAGRASS | Not Native | ||
| Cenchrus polystachios | WEST INDIAN PENNISETUM; MISSIONGRASS | Not Native Y | ||
| Cenchrus purpureus | ELEPHANTGRASS; NAPIERGRASS | Not Native FACU (NWPL) Y FAC (DEP) | ||
| Cenchrus setaceus | FOUNTAINGRASS | Not Native Y | ||
| Cenchrus spinifex | COASTAL SANDBUR | Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Cenchrus tribuloides | SANDDUNE SANDBUR | Native FACU (NWPL) |
[Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckeropsis | Beckeropsis Figari & De Notaris, Agrost. Aegypt. 2: 49, . 1853. | TYPE: Beckeropsis nubica (Hochstetter) Figari & De Notaris 1853. (Gymnotrix nubica Hochstetter) Typified by Chase, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 22: 211. 1921. | |
| Catatherophora | Catatherophora Steudel, Flora 12: 465. 1829. | TYPE: Catatherophora hordeiformis (Linnaeus) Steudel (Alopecurus hordeiformis Linnaeus) | |
| Cenchropsis | Cenchropsis Nash, in Small, Fl. S.E. U.S. 109, 1327. 1903. | TYPE: Cenchropsis myosuroides (Kunth) Nash (Cenchrus myosuroides Kunth) | |
| Echinaria | Echinaria Fabricius, Enum. Pl. 206. 1759, nom. rej. vs. Echinaria Desfontaines 1799. | TYPE: = Cenchrus Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Eriochaeta | Eriochaeta Figari & De Notaris, Agrost. Aegypt. 2: 58, t. 30-32. 1853. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Penicillaria | Penicillaria Willdenow, Enum. Pl. 1036. 1809. | TYPE: Penicillaria spicata (Linnaeus) Willdenow (Holcus spicatus Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Hitchcock, U.S.D.A. Bull. (1915-1923) 772. 246. 1920. = Pennisetum Richard ex Persoon 1805, by lectotypification. | |
| Pennisetum | Pennisetum Richard, in Persoon, Syn. Pl. 1: 72. 1805. | TYPE: Pennisetum typhoideum Richard 1805, nom. illegit. (Holcus spicatus Linnaeus 1759; Pennisetum spicatum (Linnaeus) Körnicke 1885.) Lectotypified by Hitchcock, U.S.D.A. Bull. (1915-1923) 772: 245. 1920. | |
| Raram | Raram Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 35, 597. 1763. | TYPE: = Cenchrus Linnaeus 1753, by lectotypification. | |
| Sericura | Sericura Hasskarl, Flora 25(2, Beibl.): 2. 1842. | TYPE: Sericura elegans Hasskarl 1842. |