Cenchrus hohenackeri (Hochst. ex Steud.) Morrone

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/110678329/110678386

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, forming large tussocks with thick tough roots; culms 60–150(–200) cm. high, erect.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly linear, 15–40 cm. long, 1–5 mm. wide, rigid, tightly folded, ribbed on the outside, the ribs smoothly flat-topped on the inside; sheaths keeled, imbricate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle linear, 10–25 cm. long, the culm scaberulous and sometimes pubescent below the panicle; rhachis with shallow angular ribs below the cupular scars, scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1 sessile spikelet, the base with a short oblong stipe 0.3–0.5 mm. long; bristles glabrous, the longest 6–30 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 6.5–11 mm. long; lower glume up to 1/4 the length of the spikelet, acute, rotund or truncate; upper glume 1/3–1/2 as long as the spikelet, acute to emarginate; lemmas similar, the lower ♂ or barren, the upper firmer in texture; anther-tips with or without a minute tuft of hairs.

Habitat

Upland grassland, or flood plain grassland at lower altitudes; 1100–2400 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 K5 K6 T1 U1 U2 U4

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial; caespitose; densely clumped

Morphology Culms

culms erect; 60-150(-200) cm long

Morphology Leaves Ligules

ligule a fringe of hairs

Morphology Leaves

leaf-blades conduplicate; 15-40 cm long; 1-5 mm wide; stiff leaf-blade surface ribbed with rectangular ribs leaf-sheaths keeled

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

peduncle scaberulous above; glabrous, or pubescent above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

panicle spiciform; linear; 10-25 cm long primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis panicle axis angular; scaberulous; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters inflorescence a panicle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6.5-11 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures lnvolucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with one conspicuously longer bristle; 6-30 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous fertile spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile floret; 1 fertile floret; without rhachilla extension spikelets subtended by an involucre fertile spikelets sessile. lnvolucre composed of bristles; oblong; 7-20 mm long; base bluntly stipitate (0.3-0.5mm)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

flowerlodicules absent. anthers 3; 4-5 mm long; anther tip smooth, or penicillate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

styles connate below.

Ecology

open grassland, flood plains and stream banks. altitude:1500 - 2430 m

Distribution

Africaeast Tropical and Western Indian ocean, Asia -TropicalIndia.

Conservation

Near endangered

Phenology

Flower (no data), fruit (no data)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 60-150(-200) cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 15-40 cm long; 1-5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; with rectangular ribs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above; glabrous, or pubescent above. Panicle spiciform; linear; 10-25 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis angular; scaberulous; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 7-20 mm long; base bluntly stipitate (0.3-0.5mm). Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with one conspicuously longer bristle; 6-30 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6.5-11 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; 6.5-11 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate, or oblate; 0.1-0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0-1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 0.33-0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1-3 -veined. Upper glume apex emarginate, or acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7-11 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 6.5-11 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5-7 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea membranous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 4-5 mm long; anther tip smooth, or penicillate. Styles connate below.

Distribution

Africa: east tropical and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: India.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.