Cenchrus stramineus (Peter) Morrone

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrubby, tufted perennial; stems up to 120 cm high, hard, wiry, much-branched; leaves linear; ligule a membrane 0.5–1.5 mm long, finely lacerate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle linear, 2–15 cm long, silvery; rhachis with ± rounded ribs and short peduncle-stumps, glabrous or scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1–2 sessile spikelets, without a distinct stipe; bristles glabrous, the longest 7–12 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets oblong-lanceolate, 4–5.5 mm long, acuminate; lower glume up to 1/4 the length of the spikelet, rarely more; upper glume 1/3–2/3 the length of the spikelet; lower lemma as long as the spikelet, male; upper lemma similar to the lower but a little shorter.

Distribution

N2; Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Arabia

Ecology

Altitude range 1300–1500 m.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30-120 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5-1.5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 3-15 cm long; 2-9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; 2-15 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs; smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1-2 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; oblong; 7-12 mm long; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; with longest bristle scarcely emergent; 7-12 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; acuminate; 5-5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 5-5.5 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 elliptic; 0.1-0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0-1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 0.33-0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1-3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5-7 -veined; scaberulous; rough above; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5-5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea membranous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1.5-2 mm long; anther tip smooth. Styles free to the base.

Distribution

Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrubby tufted perennial; culms 30–120 cm. high, hard, wiry, much branched, ascending.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear, 3–15 cm. long, 2–9 mm. wide, glabrous or finely pubescent, tapering to a filiform tip; ligule membranous, 0.5–1.5 mm. long, finely lacerate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle linear, 2–15 cm. long, silvery; rhachis with ± rounded ribs and short peduncle-stumps, glabrous or scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1–2 sessile spikelets, without a distinct stipe; bristles glabrous, the longest 7–12 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets oblong-lanceolate, 4–5.5 mm. long, acuminate; lower glume up to 1/4 the length of the spikelet, rarely more; upper glume 1/3–2/3 the length of the spikelet; lower lemma as long as the spikelet, ♂; upper lemma similar in texture but a little shorter.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland (typically Acacia-Commiphora), sometimes among rocks but mainly on black clays or heavy volcanic soils; 1000–2500 m.

Distribution

K1 K3 K4 K6 T1 T2