Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. (1799)
Description
Lax clumps from a very short woody rhizome, with trailing culms rooting at lower nodes; branching extravaginal, and intravaginal above. Leaf-sheath longer than internodes, firm, papery, keeled, smooth, minutely scabrid on narrow membranous margin and on ribs below collar. Ligule 1–1.5 mm, a truncate densely ciliate rim. Leaf-blade 7–20 cm × 4–9 mm, linear-lanceolate, rounded-truncate at base, flat, firm, abaxially smooth, adaxially minutely scabrid on ribs; margins somewhat thickened, minutely scabrid, tapered to long, acuminate tip. Culm to 60 cm ×c. 2–3.5 mm diam., terete to ± angled, internodes minutely pubescent-scabrid on ridges below panicle. Panicle (10)–15–25 ×c. 1.5 cm, spike-like; rachis triangular, slightly winged, densely minutely pubescent-scabrid, bearing ovoid clusters of 1–3 spikelets, hidden among bristles and densely, spirally arranged along rachis; clusters 7–10 × 4–7 mm, including involucre of stiff bristles, at first appressed, but finally borne at right angles to rachis; bristles retrorsely barbed, very variable in length, 0.5–11 mm, outermost smaller, terete, inner more planoconvex with margins densely softly long-ciliate, one bristle in each cluster usually exceeding the others. Spikelets 5–6 mm, 2-flowered, < inner bristles, sessile, glabrous, light green, almost colourless. Glumes hyaline; lower 2–3–(4.5) mm, 1-nerved, upper 4–5 mm, 5-nerved. Lower floret: lemma 4.8–6 mm, 5-nerved, scabrid; palea keels ciliate, interkeel minutely hairy, margins scabrid; anthers 1.5–2 mm, brown with thick orange-yellow filaments. Upper floret: lemma 5–5.5 mm, 5-nerved, finely scabrid-papillose; palea very finely scabrid-papillose; anthers as in lower floret; caryopsis 2.2–2.7 mm, ± ellipsoid.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
