Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald

Sandbur

Cenchrus_longispinus_plant.jpg
STATS

Native
CC = 0
CW = 5
MOC = 49

© DETenaglia

Family - Poaceae/Paniceae

Stems - To 80cm tall, multiple from the base, spreading or ascending, somewhat compressed except at the nodes, glabrous, from fibrous roots.

Cenchrus_longispinus_node.jpg Node.

© DETenaglia

Leaves - Blades to +/-15cm long, to 7mm broad, glabrous, flattened, scabrous. Sheaths glabrous, keeled. Ligule a ring of hairs to -2mm long.

Cenchrus_longispinus_sheath.jpg Leaf sheaths.

© DETenaglia

Cenchrus_longispinus_ligule.jpg Ligule.

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - To 10cm long, with 4-18 spikelets.

Flowers - Spikelets globose at maturity, -8mm in diameter, subtended by and partially covered with bristles and flattened spines to 7mm long. Lower glume to 4mm long. Upper glume to 6mm long, 3-5-nerved. Fertile lemma to -8mm long.

Cenchrus_longispinus_spikelet.jpg Spikelet close-up.

© DETenaglia

Flowering - May - October.

Habitat - Sandy open areas, disturbed sites, roadsides, railroads.

Origin - Native to U.S. and Central America.

Other info. - This species can be found scattered throughout Missouri. It is a weed of disturbed areas with open sandy ground. The spiny burs of this species become detached from the inflorescence and stick to anything they touch. They cause intense and persistent pain.
As children growing up in Florida, my friends and I would pick the fruiting stems of Cenchrus and throw them at each other. Yes, it hurt, and yes, it was stupid.

Photographs taken in Van Buren, MO., 7-18-03.