Cenchrus ciliaris

Veldkamp, J. F., 2014, A revision of Cenchrus incl. Pennisetum (Gramineae) in Malesia with some general nomenclatural notes, Blumea 59 (1), pp. 59-75 : 67

5. Cenchrus ciliaris L.

Cenchrus ciliaris L. (1771) 302. — Pennisetum cenchroides Rich.(1805) 72, nom. superfl. — Pennisetum ciliare Link (1827) 213. — [ Pennisetum ciliare Link var. genuinum Leeke (1907) 21, nom. inval. — Cenchrus ciliaris L. var. genuinus Chiov.(1908) 325 (‘ genuinum ’), nom. inval.]. — Lectotype: KÖnig in Herb. Linn. 1217.9 (holo LINN, microfiche IDC), designated by Clayton & Renvoize (1982: 691).

Cenchrus setigerus Vahl (1805) 395. — Pennisetum vahlii Kunth (1829) 49, nom. superfl. — Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link var. setigerum Leeke (1907) 22 (‘ setigera ’). — Cenchrus ciliaris L. var. setigera Maire & Weiller (1952) 342. — Pennisetum setigerum Wipff (2001) 526. — Type: Forsskåhl s.n. in Herb. Vahl (holo C, microfiche IDC 2201).

For the numerous other synonyms see DeLisle (1963: 259).

Perennials. Culms 0.25–1 m long, erect to geniculate at base, rooting in the decumbent nodes. Ligule 0.6–1.5 mm long. Leaf blades 9.5–40 cm by 2–7 mm. Inflorescence 4–8.5 cm long. Common axis puberulous, internodes 0.75–3 mm long. Stipe 0.2–1.5 by 0.2–2 mm, base obtriangular, puberulous. Burs crowded, 7.5–10 by 1.7–2.5 mm, tawny to purplish. Outer bristles shorter than the inner ones, antrorsely barbed, one exserted, 10–12 mm long. Inner bristles free to connate only at the very base, forming a small flat disc or cup, 7–15, erect, one spine distinctly longer than the others, margins densely antrorsely pilose. Spikelets 1–3 per bur, 3.4–4.5 mm long. Lower glume 0–1.5 mm long, 1-nerved; upper glume 1.9–2.25 mm long, 1-nerved. First lemma rarely epaleate, usually paleate, sterile or male, 3–3.9 mm long, 3–5-nerved; second lemma 3.4–4.5 mm long, 5-nerved. Anthers 2–2.4 mm long. 2n = usually 36, 44, also 18, 29, 32, 34, 35, 38, 40, 43, 45, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56.

Distribution — S Africa to N India, introduced elsewhere, and escaping, e.g. in Malesia: Malay Pen. (Selangor), Java (Bogor), Cocos Keeling, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumba, Timor), Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao), New Guinea: Irian Jaya (Manokwari), Papua New Guinea (Morobe, Central Prov.), probably much wider spread.

Habitat — Dry, sandy areas, roadsides, 0–800 m altitude.

Uses — Good fodder in dry areas, tolerant of heavy grazing and quickly recovering; useful because of its good soil binding capacity in sandy, especially low-rainfall areas; grains sometimes eaten in famine periods: however, they may contain cyanidin-diglycoside! Pollen allergenic.

Vernacular names — African foxtail, Anjan (grass), (Black or Blue) Buffel grass.

Notes — The inner spines are free to only shortly connate at base, antrorsely pilose. It hybridizes with P. glaucum (L.) R.Br. ( National Research Council, USA (1996: 121)).

The form often distinguished as C. setigerus (Birdwood grass) has been cultivated near Manila in 1951 ( Santos 5139, L). This is generally maintained as a species distinct from C. ciliaris because of its flattened, distinctly connate inner bristles, though material is sometimes difficult to name. Wipff (2001) reported that when examined across their range there is a complete intergradient of morphological characters.