Kentucky Plant Atlas




Taxonomic distinction unclear    No county information
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Poaceae <Paniceae> Cenchrus spinifex (incertus, pauciflorus)
Cenchrus spinifex Cav.
ALI: no HAB: n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a ABU: n/a, n/a, 0
This ranges widely from southern states to South America. It is close to the more northern longispinus, and there has been confusion in nomenclature, with inconsistent mappings among states (FNA 25, K); 2n = 34 usually in both species. It has not been verified in Ky., but reported distributions suggest that it may well occur along the Mississippi River (F, Gl, FNA 25, K). It has been recently found in s. Mo. (Ladd & Thomas 2015). Further collection and revision is needed. C. spinifex differs from longispinus in having shorter spikelets (usually 3.5-5.9 mm versus 5.8-7.8 mm), with fewer bristles overall (8-43 versus 45-75), wider inner bristles (usually 1-3 mm at base versus 0.5-0.9 mm), and outer bristles that are usually flattened rather than usually terete.