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Cenchrus caliculatus Cav.
Family Poaceae
Common name: Hillside Burrgrass

Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. APNI*

Description: Robust, scrambling perennial to 1.5 m high, forming clumps or straggling over vegetation.

Leaves with sheath compressed, glabrous to pilose, smooth to slightly rough; ligule ciliate; blade flat or somewhat folded, 3–19 mm wide, scabrous, glabrous to pubescent.

Panicle spike-like, 8–24 cm long, rachis slightly flexuous; burrs 5–11 mm long, dark purplish black to pallid. Spikelets glabrous, usually 1( but up to 3) per involucre, shorter than the inner spines, 3.8–7 mm long. Lower glume 1.2–3.5 mm long, 0–3-nerved, obtuse; upper 2.4–5 mm long, 3–5-nerved, acute. Lower lemma sterile or male, 3.5–6.5 mm long, 5–7-nerved, minutely scabrous; palea slightly shorter. Upper lemma bisexual, 3.8–6 mm long, 3-nerved, minutely scabrous.


Fruit
Photo J. & P. Edwards

Herbarium
Sheet

Herbarium
Sheet

Flowering: summer.

Distribution and occurrence: Grows on wooded hillsides on poorer soils.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, NWS, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld
AVH map***

Buffel Grass (C. ciliaris) is used for pastures in areas with a long dry season. Many Cenchrus species are troublesome weeds as the burrs contaminate wool and their barbed spines damage skin. Key from Wheeler et al. (1990).

Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)


APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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