Code
CCHEC
Growth form
Grass
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cenchrus brevisetus E.Fourn. ex Hemsl. |
| synonym | Cenchrus cavanillesii Tausch [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Cenchrus cavanillesii Tausch, nom. superfl. |
| synonym | Cenchrus crinitus Mez |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. brevisetus (E.Fourn. ex Hemsl.) Scribn. |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. brevisetus (E.Fourn.) Scribn. |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. glabratus F.Br. |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. hillebrandianus (Hitchc.) F.Br. |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. morisonii Kuntze |
| synonym | Cenchrus echinatus var. pennisetoides F.Br. |
| synonym | Cenchrus hexaflorus Blanco |
| synonym | Cenchrus hillebrandianus C.L.Hitchc. |
| synonym | Cenchrus hillebrandianus Hitchc. |
| synonym | Cenchrus insularis Scribn. |
| synonym | Cenchrus insularis Scribn. ex Millsp. |
| synonym | Cenchrus lechleri Steud. [Invalid] |
| synonym | Cenchrus lechleri Steud., nom. nud. |
| synonym | Cenchrus macrocarpus Ledeb. ex Steud. [Invalid] |
| synonym | Cenchrus macrocarpus Ledeb. ex Steud., pro syn. |
| synonym | Cenchrus pungens Kunth |
| synonym | Panicastrella muricata Moench [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Panicastrella muricata Moench, nom. superfl. |
🗒 Common Names
| Creoles and pidgins; |
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| English |
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| French |
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📚 Overview
Description
Global description
Cenchrus echinatus is a semi-upright grass, consisting of small tufts of 25 to 80 cm high. The leaf blade is glabrous, sometimes pubescent, 4 to 26 cm long and 0.3 to 1.1 cm wide. Planar sheath has fairly stiff hairs on the top of the notch with a ligule replaced by a crown of hairs. The cylindrical thatch which is up the lower nodes, are generally rooted. Inflorescence in the form of fake spikelets measure 2 to 10 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The axis is very twisty and rough. 2 to 6 spikelets are grouped into spherical balls and pressed to the base. Basal hairs slender, lobes of the involucres erect, not intersecting and ending in acute stiff point, becoming purple at the end with time.
General habit
Tufted annual grass that measures 15 cm to 1 m high.
Underground system
The roots are fibrous.
Culm
The culm is erect or geniculate-ascending, a little compressed, branched at the nodes. Roots are often formed in the lower nodes. The stem is glabrous except under the inflorescence where it is scabrous.
Leaf
The sheath is glabrous, ciliated on margins and extended by two diverticula. It is compressed and keeled on the back. The ligule is membrano-ciliated with a short membranous portion. The lamina is linear, flat, rounded at the base and whitish, sharp pointed end. It measures 4 to 25 cm long and 3 to 11 mm wide. It is pubescent on the upper face, glabrous on the underside, scabrous on the margin.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is terminal, erect and dense. It looks like a spike. It measures 2 to 10 cm long and 10 to 14 mm in diameter. It is purple or gray in color when mature. Its base is wrapped in the sheath of the last leaf or projected out of the latter. The globular and sub sessile involucre is formed of rigid, spiny and scabrous bristles, which are fused to the half of their length or more, thereby forming a deep cup. The involucre is 5 to 10 mm long and 4 to 10 mm in diameter. Each involucre contains 2 to 6 spikelets.
Flower
The spikelet is acute ovoid, 5 to 7 mm long, glabrous. The glumes are unequal. The lower glume which is acute ovoid, measures half the length of the spikelet. It has a single rib or none. The upper glume is broadly ovoid, with 5 ribs, and is ¾ the length of the spikelet. The internal flower is empty. Its lemma is similar to upper glume. The external fertile flower which is sharp ovoid is as long as the spikelet. Their lemmas are tough and smooth, and of same size.
Fruit
The oblong grain measures 3 mm long. It ends with a small tip.
Cenchrus echinatus is a semi-upright grass, consisting of small tufts of 25 to 80 cm high. The leaf blade is glabrous, sometimes pubescent, 4 to 26 cm long and 0.3 to 1.1 cm wide. Planar sheath has fairly stiff hairs on the top of the notch with a ligule replaced by a crown of hairs. The cylindrical thatch which is up the lower nodes, are generally rooted. Inflorescence in the form of fake spikelets measure 2 to 10 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The axis is very twisty and rough. 2 to 6 spikelets are grouped into spherical balls and pressed to the base. Basal hairs slender, lobes of the involucres erect, not intersecting and ending in acute stiff point, becoming purple at the end with time.
General habit
Tufted annual grass that measures 15 cm to 1 m high.
Underground system
The roots are fibrous.
Culm
The culm is erect or geniculate-ascending, a little compressed, branched at the nodes. Roots are often formed in the lower nodes. The stem is glabrous except under the inflorescence where it is scabrous.
Leaf
The sheath is glabrous, ciliated on margins and extended by two diverticula. It is compressed and keeled on the back. The ligule is membrano-ciliated with a short membranous portion. The lamina is linear, flat, rounded at the base and whitish, sharp pointed end. It measures 4 to 25 cm long and 3 to 11 mm wide. It is pubescent on the upper face, glabrous on the underside, scabrous on the margin.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is terminal, erect and dense. It looks like a spike. It measures 2 to 10 cm long and 10 to 14 mm in diameter. It is purple or gray in color when mature. Its base is wrapped in the sheath of the last leaf or projected out of the latter. The globular and sub sessile involucre is formed of rigid, spiny and scabrous bristles, which are fused to the half of their length or more, thereby forming a deep cup. The involucre is 5 to 10 mm long and 4 to 10 mm in diameter. Each involucre contains 2 to 6 spikelets.
Flower
The spikelet is acute ovoid, 5 to 7 mm long, glabrous. The glumes are unequal. The lower glume which is acute ovoid, measures half the length of the spikelet. It has a single rib or none. The upper glume is broadly ovoid, with 5 ribs, and is ¾ the length of the spikelet. The internal flower is empty. Its lemma is similar to upper glume. The external fertile flower which is sharp ovoid is as long as the spikelet. Their lemmas are tough and smooth, and of same size.
Fruit
The oblong grain measures 3 mm long. It ends with a small tip.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
Cyclicity
New Caledonia: Seed production of Cenchrus echinatus occurs mainly in hot and humid period as from January; most seeds germinate during this period. Vegetative growth is strong and the lower part of the stem of the young shoots are rooted at the nodes. Plants die in winter.
Wiktrop
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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Reproduction
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Cenchrus echinatus is an annual species. Each flowering stem of this annual grass produce 10 to 20 spinous capsules each containing 3 to 5 seeds which readily disseminate at maturity by clinging to animal hair, clothing, and agricultural machines. The mature seeds can float and therefore spread over large distances.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
Morphology
Growth form
Tuft plant with narrow leaves
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Grass or grass-like
Grass-like leaf type
Grass leaf
Type of prefoliation
Folded lead
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Flat section
Root type
Fibrous roots
Ligule type
Ligule membranous and long ciliaite
Hollow or solid stem
Hollow stem
Stipule type
No stipule
Leaf attachment type
with graminate sheathing and hair
Fruit type
Grain of grasses
Lamina base
sheathing grass-like broader
Lamina margin
scabrous
Lamina apex
attenuate
Upperface pilosity
Dense hairy
Upperface hair type
Long
Lowerface pilosity
Glabrous
Lamina section
folded
Lamina Veination
Parallel
Flower color
Orange
Green
Inflorescence type
Spike
Stem pilosity
Glabrous
Life form
Grass
Look Alikes
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Cenchrus echinatus can easily be confused with C. biflorus, or C. ciliaris. The first two are annual species with rigid and prickly involucral setae, the distinction between these two species is mainly made from the involucre of setae forming a cup at the base of the spikelets and the number of spikelets per cup, while Cenchrus ciliaris is a vivacious species with involucral setae that are not rigid and prickly, just a little scaberulous.
For Cenchrus echinatus, the involucre is globose and sub-sessile formed of rigid setae that are fused for half their length or more, forming a deep cup. The involucre is 5 to 10 mm long and 4 to 10 mm in diameter. Each involucre contains 2 to 6 spikelets.
For Cenchurs biflorus, the involucre is formed by rigid setae fused only at the base in a plate of 2 or 3 mm wide, the spikelets are solitary or grouped by 2 or 3.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Ecology
Cenchrus echinatus is a plant of coastal sands, ruderal environments, cultures, roadsides, gardens and lawn of cities.
New Caledonia: Probably arrived in New Caledonia before the arrival of European, C. echinatus is now considered invasive which is also the case in the entire Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand. The plant likes sunny exposure, with a preference for sandy soils at low altitude and dry climate (rainfall less than 1000 mm). It is a very aggressive pioneer in areas partially covered with grass.
Madagascar: C. echinatus is common in field margins or in abandoned lands.
Reunion : Cenchrus echinatus is a ruderal species, common in roadside and in vacant lots. It can also be important populations in fallow. It grows on dry sandy and highly filtered soils.
Seychelles: absentis a very infrequent weed in the crops of the west coast of Reunion. It develops in spots that can locally generate dense stands that can reach up to 20 to 30% covering
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
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No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
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Origin
Cenchrus echinatus is native to tropical areas of America.
Worldwide distribution
C. echinatus is now an invasive plant in many tropical areas.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Population Biology
Local Weediness
Kenya: Frequent but not abundant.
dummy
| Attributions | dummy |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
Risk Statement
Local harmfulness
Benin: Cenchus echinatus is rare and scarce.
Burkina Faso: rare and scarce.
Kenya: frequent and scarce.
New Caledonia: C. echinatus is common in sandy coastal areas with low rainfall where it constitutes a nuisance in the wastelands, cultivations and in sparse or degraded pastures.
Madagascar: C. echinatus is little invasive.
Reunion : Cenchrus echinatus is a very infrequent weed in the crops of the west coast of Reunion. It develops in spots that can locally generate dense stands that can reach up to 20 to 30% covering
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
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Livestock feed: In Madagascar C. echinatus provides quality forage (before flowering). A related species, Cenchrus ciliaris, with non-spiny seeds, is a forage plant known for its richness in phosphorus.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Management
Global Management
For information on weeding of annual grasses in irrigated rice and low lands of Africa, consult :
Local management
New Caledonia :
For information on weeding of annual grasses in irrigated rice and low lands of Africa, consult :
Local management
New Caledonia :
Mechanical control: C. echinatus is an annual plant; This offers the advantage of considering a simple control method for preventing seed production by severe grazing before flowering at an early stage, as it constitutes an important fodder. The operation, however, must be maintained for several years taking into account the seed reserves in the soil. This preventive management can be supplemented by manual eradication of residual plants and maintaining a dense pasture.
Chemical control: The use of herbicides can only be considered for a pasture recovery because the products used will also destroy other forage grasses. A total herbicide of glyphosate type gives good results.
Chemical control: The use of herbicides can only be considered for a pasture recovery because the products used will also destroy other forage grasses. A total herbicide of glyphosate type gives good results.
Madagascar: Pulling or hoeing are relatively easy on young plants of C. echinatus before they have developed their root system. Adult plants, tufts can be pickled in angady. Chemically, C. echinatus is sensitive enough to alachlor, oxadiazon or pre-emergence pendimethalin, and fluazifop-P-butyl and glyphosate on post emergence, even on older plant
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
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| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
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Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
References
- Okezie Akobundu, I. et Agyakwa, C.W. 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale, Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Blanfort, V., Desmoulins, F., Prosperi, J., Le Bourgeois, T., Guiglion, R., Grard, P. 2010. AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. IAC, Cirad, Montpellier, France. Cédérom. ISBN 978-2-87614-670-9.
- Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Cirad, Gondwana éditions, Montpellier, France.
- Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M., Keay, R.W.J., Hepper, F.N. 1972. Flora of west tropical africa. The Whitefriars Press, London & Tonbridge, Great Britain.
- Poilecot, P. 1995. Les Poaceae de Côte-d'Ivoire. Conservatoire et jardin botaniques de Genève, Genève, Suisse.
- Husson, O., H. Charpentier, F.-X. Chabaud, K. Naudin, Rakotondramanana et L. Séguy (2010). Flore des jachères et adventices des cultures. Annexe 1 : les principales plantes de jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar. In : Manuel pratique du semis direct à Madagascar. Annexe 1 - Antananarivo : GSDM/CIRAD, 2010 : 64 p.
- http://idao.cirad.fr/SpecieSheet?sheet=advenpac/especes/c/cchec/cchec_fr.html
- W. Parsons and E. Cuthbertson, 1992, Noxious Weeds of Australia. pages 95-97. Flora of NSW. G. Harden (ed), Vol. 4, 1993, pages 500-502. Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois, J. Rodenburg, P. Marnotte, A. Carrara, R. Irakiza, D. Makokha, G. kyalo, K. Aloys, K. Iswaria, N. Nguyen and G. Tzelepoglou (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice. Cédérom. Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp02042.htm. (accessed 15 August 2012; 10:30 GMT)
- Flora of China: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=600&taxon_id=220002515
Information Listing > References
- Okezie Akobundu, I. et Agyakwa, C.W. 1989. Guide des adventices d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Institut international d'agriculture tropicale, Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Blanfort, V., Desmoulins, F., Prosperi, J., Le Bourgeois, T., Guiglion, R., Grard, P. 2010. AdvenPaC V.1.0 : Adventices et plantes à conflit d'intérêt des Pâturages de Nouvelle-Calédonie. IAC, Cirad, Montpellier, France. Cédérom. ISBN 978-2-87614-670-9.
- Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Cirad, Gondwana éditions, Montpellier, France.
- Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M., Keay, R.W.J., Hepper, F.N. 1972. Flora of west tropical africa. The Whitefriars Press, London & Tonbridge, Great Britain.
- Poilecot, P. 1995. Les Poaceae de Côte-d'Ivoire. Conservatoire et jardin botaniques de Genève, Genève, Suisse.
- Husson, O., H. Charpentier, F.-X. Chabaud, K. Naudin, Rakotondramanana et L. Séguy (2010). Flore des jachères et adventices des cultures. Annexe 1 : les principales plantes de jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar. In : Manuel pratique du semis direct à Madagascar. Annexe 1 - Antananarivo : GSDM/CIRAD, 2010 : 64 p.
- http://idao.cirad.fr/SpecieSheet?sheet=advenpac/especes/c/cchec/cchec_fr.html
- W. Parsons and E. Cuthbertson, 1992, Noxious Weeds of Australia. pages 95-97. Flora of NSW. G. Harden (ed), Vol. 4, 1993, pages 500-502. Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois, J. Rodenburg, P. Marnotte, A. Carrara, R. Irakiza, D. Makokha, G. kyalo, K. Aloys, K. Iswaria, N. Nguyen and G. Tzelepoglou (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice. Cédérom. Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp02042.htm. (accessed 15 August 2012; 10:30 GMT)
- Flora of China: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=600&taxon_id=220002515
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Cenchrus%2520echinatus
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Cenchrus |
| Species | Cenchrus echinatus L. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
