Cenchrus unisetus (Nees) Morrone

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial.

Morphology Culms

Culms 0.6–4 m. high, typically robust and 2–15 mm. in diam. at the base.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae (5)10–30 cm. wide, broadly linear to linear-lanceolate, often falsely petiolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles 2–4 cm. long, slender, axillary and gathered into a copious false inflorescence; rhachis with rounded ribs and distinct peduncle stumps, minutely pubescent; involucre reduced to a single bristle subtending each spikelet; bristle (2.5)7–40 mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 0.2–0.5 mm. long, obtuse to emarginate, or rarely the superior up to 0.8 mm. long and subacute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Lemmas as long as spikelet, membranous.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 60-400 cm long; 2-15 mm diam. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Collar glabrous, or bearded. Leaf-blade base without a false petiole, or with a false petiole. Leaf-blades linear to lanceolate; 20-60 cm long; (5-)10-30 mm wide; flaccid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Synflorescence compound; paniculate. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Panicle spiciform; linear; 2-4 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis puberulous. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; base obtuse. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; in one whorl; 1 in principal whorl; (2.5-)7-40 mm long; terete; flexible; glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2-3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent; base truncate.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2-3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent; base truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.2-0.5 mm long; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.2-0.5(-0.8) mm long; 0.1-0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate, or obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; scabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2-3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex obtuse.

Distribution

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

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

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

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial; culms typically robust, 0.6–4 m. high, 2–15 mm. diameter at base.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades broadly linear to linear-lanceolate, mostly 20–60 cm. long, (5–)10–30 mm. wide, often falsely petiolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles numerous, axillary, slender, 2–4 cm. long, gathered into a copious leafy false panicle; rhachis with rounded ribs and distinct peduncle-stumps, minutely pubescent; involucre reduced to a single bristle beneath each spikelet; bristle glabrous, (2.5–)7–40 mm. long, often purplish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly elliptic, 2–3 mm. long; glumes 0.2–0.5 mm. long, truncate, emarginate or obtuse, rarely the upper subacute and up to 0.8 mm.; lemmas as long as the spikelet, membranous, scaberulous, the lower barren.

Habitat

In deciduous bushland and wooded grassland, favouring moist or shady places; 300–2300 m.

Distribution

K1 K3 K5 T1 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 U3 U4 tropical and South AfricaYemen

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

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial; stems robust, 0.6–4 m high, 2–15 mm in diameter at the base, rarely smaller and mat-forming; leaves broadly linear to linear-lanceolate, often falsely petiolate; ligule a line of hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles numerous, axillary, slender, 2–4 cm long, gathered into a copious false panicle; rhachis with rounded ribs and distinct peduncle-stumps, minutely pubescent; involucre reduced to a single bristle below each spikelet; bristle glabrous, 2.5–9(–40) mm long, often purplish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly elliptic, 2–3 mm long; glumes 0.2–0.5 mm long, truncate, emarginate or obtuse, rarely the upper subacute and up to 0.8 mm long; lemmas as long as the spikelet, membranous, scaberulous, the lower barren.

Distribution

N2 tropical and South Africa; Arabia

Ecology

Altitude c. 1500 m.