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178. Cenchrus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1049. 1753.
蒺藜草属 ji li cao shu
Authors: Shou-liang Chen & Sylvia M. Phillips
Annuals or perennials. Culms usually branched near the base. Leaf blades usually flat; ligule a ciliate rim. Inflorescence spikelike, cylindrical, composed of spiny or bristly deciduous burrs arranged along an angular, often sinuous rachis; burrs sessile or with an obconical basal stipe, each composed of 1 or more sessile spikelets surrounded by an involucre of spines and bristles; bristles flexuous or more often spinous, ± flattened, grooved on the outer face, united below, the degree of union varying from a small basal disk to a deep cupule, inner spines or bristles often ciliate around spikelets. Spikelets lanceolate, acute; glumes unequal, shorter than spikelet, lower sometimes suppressed; lower floret membranous, staminate or neuter; upper floret firmer, protogynous. Lodicules absent.
Twenty-three species:tropical and warm-temperate regions of the world; four species (all introduced) in China.
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| 1 |
Inner spines of burr extended beyond spikelets as long, slender bristles, connate only at base; outer bristles often longer than spikelets, numerous. |
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1 C. ciliaris |
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Inner spines of burr stiff, flattened, connate to form a deep cupule; outer bristles shorter than inner spines or absent |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Burr consisting of several whorls of connate, flattened spines, free tips emerging at irregular intervals over body of burr. |
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2 C. incertus |
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Burr consisting of 1 whorl of connate, flattened spines, usually surrounded by whorls of smaller, finer bristles |
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(3) |
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| 3 (2) |
Spines of burr retrorsely barbed, tenaciously prickly; outer bristles many. |
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3 C. echinatus |
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Spines of burr antrorsely barbed; outer bristles few or absent. |
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4 C. setigerus |
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Lower Taxa
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