Cenchrus agrimonioides Trin.

synonyms: Cenchrus pedunculatus


kamanomano


Info

Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Cenchrus = "millet" [Greek]. However this is a misnomer, the only millet species in this genus is C. americanus, and this was treated as Pennisetum when Cenchrus was erected.
Species etymology: agrimonioides = "resembling Agrimonia Tourn. ex L." [Greek] Agriomia is a genus in the rose family which has a spike-like inflorescence composed of burs
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: endemic
Legal status: USFWS - Endangered

Map

 Distribution of Cenchrus agrimonioides in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Cenchrus agrimonioides Inflorescence
Cenchrus agrimonioides Inflorescence

Spikelets

Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets
Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets
Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets
Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets
Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets
Cenchrus agrimonioides Spikelets

Description

Perennials; culms robust, 30-200 cm tall, swollen at nodes, internodes short, scabrous below panicle. Sheaths compressed keeled, much longer than internodes, glabrous; ligule membranous, fimbriate, 1—1.2 mm long; blades flat or folded, 20-40 cm long, 5-25 mm wide, upper surface scabrous, lower surface glabrous, midrib prominent. Inflorescence composed of racemes 5—10 cm long, the axis densely puberulent; burs cylindrical to lanceoloid, somewhat reflexed at maturity, fusiform, 8-18 mm long, bur receptacle narrow in lower part, expanding above, 3-4 mm long, densely pubescent, outer series of bristles numerous, somewhat spreading, 2-3 mm long,retrorsely scabrous, the larger ones tomentulose at base, body of bur cleft 4-4 its length, lobes erect, appressed, forming an irregular beak, densely tomentose near middle, apex retrorsely scabrous; spikelets 1 per bur; glumes unequal, scaberulous, first glume 2-3 mm long, 5-7-nerved, awntipped; sterile lemma 5-6 mm long, scaberulous, 5-7-nerved, awn-tipped; sterile palea indistinctly 3-nerved, slightly shorter than lemma, scaberulous on margins and keel near apex; fertile lemma 5-6 mm long, indistinctly 5-nerved, apex acute; fertile palea 4-5 mm Jong, membranous, scaberulous at base, apex acute. Caryopsis ovoid, ca. 2.6 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter.
(Description source: O’Connor, P.J. 1990. Poaceae, pp. 1481–1604. In: Wagner W.L., Herbst D.R. & Sohmer S.H. (eds.)., Manual of the flowering plant of Hawaiʻi. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu )