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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Cenchrus spinifex (Grass bur)
Strickland, Sam C.

Cenchrus spinifex

Cenchrus spinifex Cav.

Grass Bur, Coastal Sandbur, Field Sandspur, Southern Sandbur, Spiny Burrgrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Cenchrus incertus, Cenchrus parviceps, Cenchrus pauciflorus

USDA Symbol: cesp4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

Culms: 8-80 cm long. Inflorescence: spiney. Spines: 8-40 per bur.

 

From the Image Gallery

7 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Raceme
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 32 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Burs purplish

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , DC , FL , GA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , NM , NV , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: Texas: Throughout but most abundant in north-central and southeast Texas and Rio Grande Plains. U.S.A.: Coastal States, Virginia to Texas and inland to Arkansas and Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California. International: Nearly throughtout Mexico, Central America, and West Indies; also warm-temperate and subtropical parts of South America; Philipines; South Africa.
Native Habitat: Sandy or tighter soils, especially in disturbed areas.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil Description: Best adapted to dry sandy and sandy loam soil.
Conditions Comments: Common on disturbed sites.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: The song bird, Pyrrhuloxia, eat the seeds.
Warning: Very painful to walk on in bare feet. Burs stick to clothing.
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Treatment: No special pre-treatment.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0332 Collected May 22, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-RLU-3 Collected 2009-09-05 in Burnet County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cenchrus spinifex in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cenchrus spinifex in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cenchrus spinifex

Metadata

Record Modified: 2015-07-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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