Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Naturalizada y adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 1500 - 4000 m.; Andes, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology

Alt. 1500 - 4000 m.

Morphology General Habit

Herb.

Distribution

Introduced and naturalised in Colombia.

Conservation

Not Evaluated.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 1500–4000 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial; mat forming

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

rhizomes elongated. stolons present

Morphology Culms

culms prostrate; 3-15(-45) cm long; rooting from lower nodes

Morphology Leaves Ligules

ligule a fringe of hairs

Morphology Leaves

leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1-15 cm long; 1-5 mm wide leaf-blade apex obtuse. inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising (1-)2-4(-6) fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed leaf-sheaths inflated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

spikelets subtended by an involucre fertliespikeletsspikelets comprising 1 basal sterile floret; 1 fertile floret; without rhachilla extension spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10-20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. glumes absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. floretsbasal sterile florets barren; without significant palea fertile spikelets sessile. lnvolucre composed of bristles; lanceolate; 4-15 mm long; base obtuse lnvolucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; 3-15 in principal whorl; terete; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous, or pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

anthers 3; 4-5 mm long; anther tip smooth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

caryopsis ovoid, dark brown, about 2.5 x 1.5 mm, pointed with persistent short style. flower: lodicules absent

Ecology

upland grassland on fertile soils or along drainage lines. altitude:1330 - 3260 m

Distribution

widely distributed around the world.

Conservation

Near endangered

Phenology

Flower (all year), fruit (all year)

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

Morphology General Habit

Sward-forming perennial, with slender rhizomes, and stout rampant stolons amply clothed with pale subinflated leaf-sheaths; culms 3–15(–45) cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades 1–15 cm. long, 1–5 mm. wide, flat or folded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence reduced to a cluster of (1–)2–4(–6) subsessile spikelets concealed within the uppermost sheath; involucre sparse; bristles delicate, 1/3–3/4 the length of the spikelet, scaberulous to ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 10–20 mm. long; lower glume 0; upper glume ovate, 1–3 mm. long, rarely longer, sometimes suppressed; lower lemma narrowly lanceolate, as long as the spikelet, tapering, barren without a palea; upper lemma resembling the lower; stigma simple or shortly bifid, up to 3 cm. long, subplumose; anthers exserted on fine silvery filaments up to 5 cm. long.

Habitat

Upland grasslands on fertile soils subject to grazing; widely grown for pasture under the name “Kikuyu grass”; 1400–3300 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T2 T3 T7 U2 U3 Ethiopia, Zaire, Rwanda, Burundiintroduced to tropical highlands and to subtropics throughout the world

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

Morphology General Habit

Sward-forming perennial with slender rhizomes, and stout rampant stolons amply clothed with pale sub-inflated leaf-sheaths.

Morphology Culms

Culms 3–15(45) cm. high.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 1–15 cm. long, flat or folded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence reduced to a cluster of (1)2–4(6) subsessile spikelets concealed within the uppermost sheath; involucre sparse; bristles delicate, 1/3–3/4 length of spikelet, scaberulous to ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 10–20 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume absent; superior 1–3 mm. long, sometimes suppressed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Inferior lemma as long as spikelet. Superior lemma resembling inferior.

Inferior

Inferior lemma as long as spikelet.

Superior

Superior lemma resembling inferior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma up to 3 cm. long, subplumose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Anthers exserted on fine silvery filaments up to 5 cm. long.

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

Morphology General Habit

A creeping perennial with stout stolons forming a dense mat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

The silvery filaments of the stamens are conspicuously exserted from the leaf-sheath when in flower.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 3-15(-45) cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths inflated. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1-15 cm long; 1-5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising (1-)2-4(-6) fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; lanceolate; 4-15 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; few; 3-15 in principal whorl; terete; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous, or pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10-20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10-20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes both absent or obscure, or one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0-3 mm long; 0-0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 8-12 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10-20 mm long; membranous; without keel; 8-12 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea membranous; 2-4 -veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 4-5 mm long; anther tip smooth. Filaments 25-50 mm long. Stigmas 2; protogynous; terminally exserted. Styles 20-30 mm long; connate below; 1 of their length connate.

Distribution

Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: south-central and north-central. North America: southwest USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.