A possible

Veldkamp, J. F., 2014, A revision of Cenchrus incl. Pennisetum (Gramineae) in Malesia with some general nomenclatural notes, Blumea 59 (1), pp. 59-75 : 60

A possible first record of Cenchrus echinatus

The first report of a Cenchrus may have been by Piso (1648) for a plant known as Amongeaba in the Dutch colonies in northeastern Brazil (Pernambuco, Recife) ( Fig. 1 : notwithstanding the quality, it gives a general idea). The rather crude illustration according to Chase (1920: 47) is either C. echinatus or C. viridis Spreng. (= C. brownii ). The name Panicum silvestre used by Piso has been applied to a number of species. Trinius (1822) mentioned it as referring to Panicum crus­galli L. = Echinochloa crus­galli (L.) P.Beauv., P. glabrum (Schrad.) Gaudin = Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Muhl. , P. verticillatum L. = Setaria verticillata (L.) P.Beauv., and P. viride L. = S. viridis (L.) P.Beauv. The Digitaria and Echinochloa hardly resemble Piso’s illustration, but it might well be of a Setaria P.Beauv. If it really represents a Cenchrus , it seems most likely C. echinatus , see also the distribution maps by Filgueiras (1984). Maybe there is a specimen in the herbarium of Marcgrave (C). ( MacBryde 1970). This was the base for Raram Adans. (1763: 35, 597), a superfluous name by lectotypification for Cenchrus with C. echinatus (‘ Cenchrus 3. Linn.’), while his other references pertain to C. echinatus .

A more certain early record of Cenchrus echinatus Herman in Sherard’s ‘Paradisi batavi’ (1689: 338) recorded Gramen aculeatum Curassavicum . ‘ Curassavicum ’ refers to the island of Curaçao, where at least a century ago there were only two species ( Boldingh 1914: C. carolinianus Walter and C. echinatus ). From the very brief phrase name it is not even clear that this refers to a Cenchrus . Any spiny grass would do. Plukenet (1691, 1696) with some doubt mentioned it (‘ Schol. Botan.’) under the new phrase name Gramen americanum spica echinata majoribus locustis. The illustration of 1691 ( Fig. 2 ) was based on plants grown from fruits given by Sherard to Samuel Doody (1656–1706), a pharmacist in London and from 1691 Superintendent of the Chelsea Physick Garden. He was a friend of Petiver, Plukenet and Ray. “In his time very famous” ( Backer 1936). Very likely Sherard had brought diaspores from Amsterdam, and so the two names are linked more closely together than Plukenet thought. Anyway, Chase (1920: 47) commented “A fairly good illustration of Cenchrus echinatus .”. The plate was mentioned by Linnaeus (1753) under C. echinatus . It is reproduced here and although of poor quality, does resemble a Cenchrus .

Contrary to the citation by Linnaeus (1753) Morison (1699) changed Gramen americanum , spica echinata, majoribus glumis, Schol. Bot. Par. to Gramen aculeatum curassavicum, Hort. Reg. Paris.

I think the ‘T.’ cited by Linnaeus is a cryptic reference to Tournefort in the ‘Schola’.

In the end, the lectotype of C. echinatus is a specimen in the Herb. Van Royen s.n. (holo L, sh. 912.356-116; microfiche IDC BT-341 ), designated by Veldkamp (1993) .

Figures

Fig. 1 Amongeaba Piso, De medicina brasiliensi: 120. 1648.

Fig. 2 Gramen americanum spica echinata majoribus locustis Plukenet, Phytographia 1: 174, t. 92, f. 3. 1691.