Cenchrus geniculatus Thunb.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44393649/117201514

Conservation

LC - least concern

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial; caespitose. rhizomes elongated

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

butt sheaths glabrous

Morphology Culms

culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10- 150 cm long

Morphology Leaves

leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3-40 cm long; 2-8 mm wide. leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform

Morphology Leaves Ligules

ligule a fringe of hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis panicle axis with rounded ribs; scaberulous; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters inflorescencepeduncle glabrous panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 2-15 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

spikelets subtended by an involucre. fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster lnvolucre composed of bristles; oblong; 5-14 mm long; base truncate. lnvolucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with longest bristle scarcely emergent; 5-14 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous fertile spikelets: spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

floretsbasal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. fertile lemma ovate; 2.5-5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5-7 -veined. flowerlodicules absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

anthers 3; 1.5-2.5 mm long; anther tip smooth, or penicillate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

styles connate below; 0.2 of their length connate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

fruit: caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.7 mm long.

Ecology

upland grassland on damp soils, along roadsides and as a weed. altitude:1500 - 3000 m

Distribution

Tropical and South Africa, Arabia, India, Australia.

Conservation

least concerned

Phenology

Flower (all year), fruit (all year)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10-150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3-40 cm long; 2-8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous. Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 2-15 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs; scaberulous; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 5-14 mm long; base truncate. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with longest bristle scarcely emergent; 5-14 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 0.2-0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0-1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse, or acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic, or ovate; (0.25-)0.33-0.66(-0.75) length of spikelet; membranous; 1-3 -veined; cuspidate, or acuminate; mucronate. Awn of lower sterile floret 0.5-1.5 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5-5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5-7 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; membranous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1.5-2.5 mm long; anther tip smooth, or penicillate. Styles connate below; 0.2 of their length connate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.7 mm long.

Distribution

Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Loosely tufted rhizomatous perennial; culms 10–150 cm. high, erect or geniculate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear, 3–40 cm. long, 2–8 mm. wide, flat or convolute, tapering to a filiform tip; sheaths glabrous except for margins and throat.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle linear to narrowly oblong, 2–15 cm. long, dense; rhachis cylindrical, with rounded ribs and distinct peduncle-stumps, scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1 sessile spikelet, stipeless and truncate at the base; bristles fine, glabrous, the longest 5–14 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2.5–5 mm. long, acuminate; lower glume suppressed or up to 1 mm. long; upper glume up to 1/4 the length of the spikelet, acute to emarginate; lower lemma barren, (1/4–)1/3–2/3(–3/4) the length of the spikelet, abruptly acuminate to cuspidate, usually with a mucro 0.5–1.5 mm. long; upper lemma as long as the spikelet, acuminate or with a mucro up to 1 mm. long; anther-tips smooth, with a few tiny hairs, or distinctly penicillate.

Habitat

Upland pasture, particularly on damp soils, extending to roadsides and old cultivation; 1500–3500 m.

Distribution

Zaire and Ethiopia to South Africa K2 K3 K4 K5 T2 T3 T4 T7 U1 U2 U3

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Loosely tufted rhizomatous perennial.

Morphology Culms

Culms 10–150 cm. high, erect or geniculate, glabrous or pubescent below panicle.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 2–8 mm. wide, flat or convolute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle 2–15 cm. long, linear to narrowly oblong; rhachis cylindrical with rounded ribs and distinct peduncle stumps, scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1 sessile spikelet, the base truncate; bristles fine, glabrous, the longest 5–14 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2.5–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume suppressed or up to 1 mm. long, the superior up to 1/4 length of spikelet, acute to emarginate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Inferior lemma (1/4)1/3–2/3(3/4) length of spikelet, abruptly acuminate to cuspidate, usually with a mucro 0.5–1.5 mm. long. Superior lemma thinly coriaceous, acuminate or with a mucro up to 1 mm. long.

Inferior

Inferior lemma (1/4)1/3–2/3(3/4) length of spikelet, abruptly acuminate to cuspidate, usually with a mucro 0.5–1.5 mm. long.

Superior

Superior lemma thinly coriaceous, acuminate or with a mucro up to 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther tips smooth to distinctly penicillate.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Perennial with slender culms 30–90 cm. high

Ecology

Damp places.