Scientific Name:
Cenchrus spinifex
Common Name:
coastal sandbur
Other Common Names:
grass bur, coastal sandbur, field sandspur, southern sandbur, spiny burrgrass
Synonyms:
Cenchrus pauciflorus; Cenchrus incertus; Cenchrus parviceps
Habit:
Graminoid
Identifying Characteristics:
Grass Family (Poaceae). Mat sandbur is a native, warm season annual and at times, short-lived perennial. The height ranges 8 to 24 inches. The leaf blade is 2 to 6 inches long and flat. The leaf sheath is flattened and hairy along margins. The stem is erect or grows along ground. The seedhead is a raceme with 6 to 20 spiny burs covered with fine hair, each enclosing 2 spikelets, and often topped by leaves.
Where Found:
Southern and northeastern United States
-
Life cycle:
perennial
-
-
Plant type:
Grass
-
Auricle:
not present
-
-
Plant family:
Poaceae
-
Leaf arrangement:
folded in bud
-
-
-
-
-
Hair surface:
hairs on basal half only
-
-
Ligule:
membrane;
hairy
-
-
-
-
-
Length:
1-2 mm;
less than 1 mm
-
-
-
-
Seed head:
spiny burs
-
-
Width:
6 to 15 mm;
less than 5 mm
-
Grass stem:
flat or oval
VT Logo
