Cenchrus echinatus

Cenchrus echinatus is a species of grass known by the common names southern sandbur,^[3] spiny sandbur,^[4] southern sandspur, and in Australia, Mossman River grass.^[5][6] It is native to North and South America. It is a clump-forming annual grass growing up to 80 cm (31 in) tall. The leaves occur with or without hairs and measure up to 12 mm (0.47 in) wide. The ligule is a fringe of hairs. The grass has barbed burrs of 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long.

Cenchrus echinatus
On Kure Atoll
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Cenchrus
Species:	C. echinatus
Binomial name
Cenchrus echinatus L.[2]
Synonyms[2]
Cenchrus cavanillesii Tausch Panicastrella muricata Moench Cenchrus brevisetus E.Fourn. ex Hemsl. Cenchrus crinitus Mez Cenchrus hillebrandianus Hitchc. Cenchrus insularis Scribn. Cenchrus pungens Kunth

In Australia it forms an invasive weed in coastal situations.^[6]

Ecology

The species is invasive in New Caledonia,^[7] Tahiti, and Rarotonga.^[8]

Gallery

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  In Brazil
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  In the Florida Keys
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  Illustration