Cenchrus echinatus | |
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On Kure Atoll | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Cenchrus |
Species: | C. echinatus
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Binomial name | |
Cenchrus echinatus | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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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.
In Australia it forms an invasive weed in coastal situations.[6]