Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Cenchrus ciliaris
FAMILY
Poaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pennisetum ciliare
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Cenchrus ciliaris
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25 (2003)
Pennisetum ciliare
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Pennisetum ciliare var. ciliare
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Pennisetum ciliare
COMMON NAME:
Buffelgrass
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5386204
Month Unknown
Forms tussocks to 3' tall or mats, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5386205
Month Unknown
Seedhead erect, cylindrical, 2.5-13cm, gray to purple to yellowish, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5386206
Month Unknown
Leaves bluish-green 2-12" long, < 0.5" wide, with soft hairs on upper side, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5466536
Month Unknown
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5466537
Month Unknown
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5466538
Month Unknown
)
D. Walters & C. Southwick, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5466539
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Cenchrus ciliaris
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pennisetum ciliare
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Cenchrus ciliaris
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25
Pennisetum ciliare
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Pennisetum ciliare var. ciliare
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Pennisetum ciliare
2521
Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Perennial
Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Africa
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate, 2-ranked
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Grain
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p366
- Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950) p730
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".