of Flora China 22: 552553. 2006.
178. CENCHRUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1049. 1753.
ji li cao shu Chen Shouliang (); Sylvia M. Phillips Annuals or perennials. Culms usually branched near the base. Leaf blades usually flat; ligule a ciliate rim. Inflorescence spikelike, cylindrical, composed of spiny or bristly deciduous burrs arranged along an angular, often sinuous rachis; burrs sessile or with an obconical basal stipe, each composed of 1 or more sessile spikelets surrounded by an involucre of spines and bristles; bristles flexuous or more often spinous, flattened, grooved on the outer face, united below, the degree of union varying from a small basal disk to a deep cupule, inner spines or bristles often ciliate around spikelets. Spikelets lanceolate, acute; glumes unequal, shorter than spikelet, lower sometimes suppressed; lower floret membranous, staminate or neuter; upper floret firmer, protogynous. Lodicules absent.
Twenty-three species: tropical and warm-temperate regions of the world; four species (all introduced) in China.
1a. Inner spines of burr extended beyond spikelets as long, slender bristles, connate only at base; outer bristles often longer than spikelets, numerous ....................................................................................................................................... 1. C. ciliaris 1b. Inner spines of burr stiff, flattened, connate to form a deep cupule; outer bristles shorter than inner spines or absent. 2a. Burr consisting of several whorls of connate, flattened spines, free tips emerging at irregular intervals over body of burr ............................................................................................................................................................... 2. C. incertus 2b. Burr consisting of 1 whorl of connate, flattened spines, usually surrounded by whorls of smaller, finer bristles. 3a. Spines of burr retrorsely barbed, tenaciously prickly; outer bristles many .................................................... 3. C. echinatus 3b. Spines of burr antrorsely barbed; outer bristles few or absent ........................................................................ 4. C. setigerus 1. Cenchrus ciliaris Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 2: 302. 1771. shui niu cao Pennisetum ciliare (Linnaeus) Link. Perennial, tufted or shortly rhizomatous. Culms erect or ascending from a decumbent or stoloniferous base, slender to moderately stout, sometimes much branched, up to 1 m tall. Leaf sheaths glabrous or pubescent; leaf blades linear, green or grayish, 1050 0.40.8 cm, with scattered, tubercle-based hairs; ligule 0.53 mm. Inflorescence 315 cm, densely bristly, burrs contiguous, rachis puberulous. Burrs composed of many bristles; bristles antrorsely barbed; inner bristles 714 mm (one stouter and slightly longer), connate at extreme base to form a shallow disc 0.51.5 mm wide, somewhat flattened around spikelets, grooved on outer face, ciliate on inner margins, tips extended into flexuous bristles clearly exceeding spikelets; outer bristles numerous, shorter, slender. Spikelets 14 in burr, 35 mm; lower glume 1/31/2 spikelet length; upper glume ca. 1/2 spikelet length. 2n = 36.
Pastures and weedy places, introduced. Taiwan [native to India, Pakistan; Africa, SW Asia; introduced in America and Australia]. This is a polymorphic species occurring naturally from Africa to India. Some superior strains have been selected and distributed in warm parts of the world for pasture and fodder in dry areas (Buffel Grass), and the grass has become a widespread weed. It was introduced to Taiwan as a pasture grass, and is now naturalized in the of south that island. Cenchrus ciliaris may easily be mistaken for a species of Pennisetum, as the basal fusion of the bristles is rather slight. However, the flattening and grooving of the bristles around the spikelets is a characteristic feature of Cenchrus and is not found in Pennisetum.
guang geng ji li cao Annual or short-lived perennial. Culms geniculate, decumbent or erect, 40100 cm tall. Leaf sheaths keeled, loose, glabrous or pilose near margins; leaf blades linear or narrowly lanceolate, 320 0.20.6 cm, glabrous on both surfaces; ligule 0.51.5 mm. Inflorescence 1.56.5 ca. 1 cm, open or compact, rachis scabrous. Burrs variable, globose or ovoid, ca. 1 cm, stipe glabrous, spines retrorsely barbed, connate for much of their length, spiny tips diverging irregularly throughout body of burr, involucral cupule cleft on 2 sides, pubescent, spines rigid, long and slender to short and broad. Spikelets 23 in burr, 3.56 mm; lower glume 1/31/2 spikelet length; upper glume 3/4 spikelet length. Fl. and fr. autumn.
Seashore sand dunes. Liaoning [native to America]. This native of America is now widespread as a weed.
3. Cenchrus echinatus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1050. 1753. ji li cao Annual. Culms geniculate, usually rooting at basal nodes, 1590 cm tall. Leaf sheaths keeled, usually imbricate at base; leaf blades linear or linear-lanceolate, 520(40) 0.41 cm, glabrous to pubescent; ligule ca. 1 mm. Inflorescence 310
2. Cenchrus incertus M. A. Curtis, Boston J. Nat. Hist. 1: 135. 1837.
Flora of China 22: 552553. 2006.
ca. 1 cm, burrs contiguous, rachis scabrous. Burrs globose, 0.4 1 cm, truncate, stipe pubescent, all spines and bristles retrorsely barbed; inner spines connate for 1/31/2 their length forming a globose cupule, the flattened free tips triangular, erect or bent inward, cupule and tips pubescent, outer spines in 2 divergent whorls, a median whorl of stout rigid spines equaling the inner teeth, and an outermost whorl of relatively few short, slender bristles. Spikelets 24 in burr, 4.57 mm; lower glume 1/2 spikelet length; upper glume 2/33/4 spikelet length. Fl. and fr. summer. 2n = 34, 68.
Seashore sand dunes, roadsides, waste places. Fujian, ...