Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18963209/117199421

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Guiana Shield, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–3000 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Caldas, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Nariño, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vichada.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.

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

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 3000 m.; Andes, Guayana y Serranía de La Macarena, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

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

Morphology General Habit

Robust perennial, often forming bamboo-like clumps; culms 1–6 m. high or more.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades up to 120 cm. long, 4 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle linear, 7–30 cm. long; rhachis cylindrical, with or without short peduncle-stumps, pubescent; involucre enclosing 1–5 spikelets, one of them sessile and hermaphrodite, the others shortly pedicelled and ♂ (but scarcely different in appearance); bristles glabrous or obscurely ciliate, the longest 10–40 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate, 4.5–7 mm. long, glabrous; lower glume 0; upper glume 1/4–1/2 the length of the spikelet, rarely 0; lower lemma 2/3 to as long as the spikelet (rarely less), ♂ or barren, membranous, acuminate; upper lemma subcoriaceous and shining in the lower half, acuminate; anther tips bearing a tiny tuft of hairs (very rarely glabrous).

Figures

Fig. 156.

Habitat

Riverine sites, valley bottoms and forest margins, with a preference for rich soils; widely cultivated for fodder under the names “Elephant” and “Napier” grass; 0–2500 m.

Distribution

K4 K5 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 U3 tropical Africaintroduced to most other tropical countries

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

Morphology General Habit

A robust perennial up to 8 m. high and 2.5 cm. diam. at the base

Ecology

Commonly occurs near the banks of streams.

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

robust Perrenial forming large, bamboo-like clumps, with culms usually 2-3.5 m high (up to 7.5 m) and branched towards the top

Morphology Stem

stem to 3 cm diameter near the base

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

spreads by short rhizomes, rooting from lower nodes or falling stems rooting at nodes creating a stolon

Morphology Leaves

leaf blades glabrous or hairy, 30-120 cm long and 1-5 cm wide; leaf­ sheaths glabrous or with stiff hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

inflorescencea bristly false spike 10-30 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide (excluding bristles) dense, usually yellow-brown in colour, more rarely greenish or purplish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; dorsally compressed; concealed by floret; 1.8-2.2 mm long.

Ecology

riverine sites, valley bottoms and forest margins, with a preference for rich soils. altitude:300 - 1800 m

Distribution

Tropical Africa; introduced to most other Tropical countries.

Conservation

Near endangered least concerned

Phenology

Flower (all year), fruit (all year) Flower (january - june), fruit (january - june)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 100-600 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 3-5 mm long. Leaf-blades 30-120 cm long; 20-40 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above. Panicle spiciform; linear; 7-30 cm long; 1-3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis, or with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis terete; pubescent; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 0-4 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 8-16 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with one conspicuously longer bristle; 10-40 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous, or ciliate.

Sterile

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5-7 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; exserted from glumes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5-7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5-7 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; exserted from glumes.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5-7 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 lanceolate, or ovate; 0.75-3 mm long; 0.25-0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0-1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 0.66-1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; (1-)2-5(-7) -veined; acute, or acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5-7 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 5-7 -veined. Lemma margins flat; eciliate. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea coriaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2-3.1 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Styles connate below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; dorsally compressed; concealed by floret; 1.8-2.2 mm long.

Distribution

Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: southeast USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

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

Morphology General Habit

Robust perennial, often forming bamboo-like clumps.

Morphology Culms

Culms 1–6 m. high.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae up to 120 cm. long and 4 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle 7–30 cm. long, linear; rhachis cylindrical, with or without short peduncle stumps, pubescent; involucre enclosing 1–5 spikelets, one of them sessile and bisexual, the others shortly pedicelled and male (but scarcely different in appearance); bristles glabrous or obscurely ciliate, the longest 10–40 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4.5–7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume suppressed, the superior 1/4–1/2 length of spikelet or rarely suppressed.

Inferior

Inferior glume suppressed, the superior 1/4–1/2 length of spikelet or rarely suppressed. Inferior lemma 2/3 to as long as spikelet (rarely less).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Inferior lemma 2/3 to as long as spikelet (rarely less). Superior lemma subcoriaceous and shining in the inferior half.

Superior

Superior lemma subcoriaceous and shining in the inferior half.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther tips bearing a tiny tuft of hairs (very rarely glabrous).

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular

elephant grass, Napier grass

Morphology General Habit

Robust tufted leafy perennial 2–4 m tall; leaf-blades elongate, 20–30 mm broad, the lower ones glabrous, the upper ones with long hairs on dorsal surface; sheath with scattered hairs; ligule represented by a line of hairs 3–4 mm long; nodes conspicuously hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a tawny spike-like panicle up to 30 cm long; spikelets 7 mm long, unequally pedicelled in fascicles, these subtended by long hair-like bristles.

Distribution

Grand Cayman. Native of tropical Africa; introduced into the West Indies and other areas.

Ecology

Forage grass – becoming naturalized.