Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.

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Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Cenchrus annularis Anderss. Cenchrus perinvolucratus Stapf & Hubbard
Common names:	Indian sandbur (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Annual grass with ascending culms 5–90 cm high. Panicle 2–15 cm long; involucre 4–11 mm long, connate at the base to forming an ovoid or diamond-shaped disk at the base 2–4 mm wide; inner spines flattened, retrorsely barbellate and sharp at the apex; outer spines numerous, borne in a whorl around the rim of the disk. Spikelets 1–3 per bur, 3.5–6 mm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	biflorus: 2-flowered
Habitat:	Often weedy in old cultivation and disturbed places, usually on sandy soils.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Throughout tropical Africa and India.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Friday 2 August 2019
Literature:	Chapano, C. (2002). A checklist of Zimbabwean grasses Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 16. Pretoria. Page 13. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 188. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 131. Fish, L., Mashau, A.C., Moeaha, M.J. & Nembudani, M.T. (2015). Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses Strelitzia 36 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria Page 157. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 507. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 101. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 127. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 132. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 187.

Other sources of information about Cenchrus biflorus:

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Flora of Botswana: Cenchrus biflorus
Flora of Burundi: Cenchrus biflorus
Flora of Mozambique: Cenchrus biflorus
Flora of Zambia: Cenchrus biflorus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cenchrus biflorus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cenchrus biflorus
African Plant Database: Cenchrus biflorus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cenchrus biflorus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cenchrus biflorus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cenchrus biflorus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cenchrus biflorus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cenchrus biflorus
JSTOR Plant Science: Cenchrus biflorus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cenchrus biflorus
Plants of the World Online: Cenchrus biflorus
Tropicos: Cenchrus biflorus
Wikipedia: Cenchrus biflorus