Plant Listings

Cenchrus incertus M. A. Curtis

Common Names: Sand Bur

Family: Poaceae

Habit: Cenchrus incertus grows as a decumbent annual or biannual to 90 centimeters in length with a diameter to 0.5 cm and can form large dense clumps. The leaves are arranged alternately with a sheath extending along the stem that is pubescent along its edge. At the point of divergence of the leaf sheath to the leaf blade is a small ligule. The leaves are parallel veined and to 20 centimeters in length.

The zygomorphic, imperfect, incomplete flowers are arranged in terminal panicles. The flowers are highly modified without identifiable structures such as the calyx or corolla. Each flowering unit is a spikelet at the base of which are 2 yellow brown structures called glumes. In the spikelet, there are 2 flowering structures each is subtended by 2 additional structures (lemma and palea). The entire spikelet surrounded by bracts that are sharpened into spines. In each flower within the spikelet there are 3 stamens. The fruit is a caryopsis that turns black at maturity. The entire spikelet/bur is the dispersal unit.

Habitat: Cenchrus incertus grows in Dunes and Holocene sand substrate Palm Woodlands.

Distribution in Bahamas/Globally: Cenchrus incertus occurs on all island groupings within the Bahamian Archipelago as well as the entire Caribbean region, Florida, and Central and South America.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Cenchrus incertus has not been used medicinally in the Bahamas.