Species Detail Grasses

Plant - Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Cenchrus spinifex - coastal sandbur Synonyms: Cenchrus incertus, Cenchrus parviceps, Cenchrus pauciflorus Other Common Names: field sandbur, grass bur, Southern sandbur, spiny burgrass Plant Form: Grass Family: Poaceae


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Seedhead Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Spikelets Liz Makings @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)


	Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology Origin: Native Season: Warm Habitat Description: Dry sandy soil, disturbed sites. Plant Communities:Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Disturbed Areas Elevation: 2000 - 6000 feet Similar Species: Cenchrus tribuloides, Cenchrus longispinus General Description Desc: Plants are annuals or short-lived perennials. Weak spreading stems form mats with deep, well-developed roots. Growth starts early, adding to the competitiveness of this weedy grass. Identification Notes: Annual with spreading seedhead stems; simple spike-like seedheads of spiny burs; burs sometimes crowded on the seedhead, representing 2 spikelets that have coalesced and have many flat spines; flat blades; sometimes freely branching and forming mats. Grass Type: Annual Rhizomes: N Stolons: N Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: Less than 12 inches Seedhead Structure: Unbranched Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jun - Nov Flower Characteristics Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: N Awns: Absent Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedheads are dense, compact spikes bearing 12 to 27 stiff, spiny burs. Spikelets are usually two-flowered and purplish. Vegetative Charcteristics Blade Hairy: Y Blade with White Margins: N Blade Cross section: Flat or folded Blade Notes: Blades are flat or folded. Stems are somewhat flattened and often purplish colored at the base. Stems are often bent and jointed. Sheath Hairy: Y Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: Y Ligules: Membranous and hairy Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: N Forage Value: Poor palatability for wildlife, but the song bird Pyrrhuloxia eats the seeds.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer