Family: Poaceae
Author: (Hack.) Fernald
Bibliography: Rhodora 45: 388 (1943)
Year: 1943
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Cenchrus
Vegetable: False
Observations: N. America
Description
Dune sandbur, scientifically known as Cenchrus longispinus, is a grass species within the family Poaceae, commonly encountered across North America. This resilient plant is recognized for its adaptability to sandy soils, particularly in dune and coastal environments, where many other plants struggle to establish and thrive.
The defining characteristic of the dune sandbur is its hard, spiny burs, which significantly contribute to the plant’s dispersal and can be a nuisance to both animals and humans when they attach to fur or clothing. These burs ensure that the plant spreads efficiently across its preferred habitats, promoting an extensive distribution throughout North America.
Cenchrus longispinus is a hardy grass well-suited to its environment, capable of withstanding the challenging conditions often found in dune ecosystems. Its success in these areas highlights the plant’s important role in stabilizing sandy soils and mitigating erosion, which can be particularly valuable in maintaining the integrity of coastal landscapes.
This species was first described in detail in the scientific literature in the year 1943, as recorded in Rhodora, a journal dedicated to the study of plants. The detailed classification and nomenclature of Cenchrus longispinus were contributed to by Hackel and later expanded upon by Fernald, whose work in this area of botany has been widely acknowledged.
In summary, Cenchrus longispinus exemplifies a robust and adaptive grass species, playing a critical ecological role in the habitats where it flourishes. Its unique characteristics and the challenges it presents underscore the intriguing complexity of plant adaptation and survival in North America’s diverse environments.
Common Names
Eng: bohena beauty, burgrass, dune sandbur, field sandbur, gentle annie, hedgehog grass, innocent-weed, long-spine sandbur, longspine sandbur, mat sandbur, mat sandbur grass, sandbur, victorian gin, long-spined sandbur, innocent weed
Ita: nappola
Fra: cenchrus à épines longues, cenchrus
En: Dune sandbur, Gentle Annie, Long-spine sandbur, Mat sandbur, Mat sandbur grass, Bohena beauty, Victorian gin, Hedgehog grass, Innocent-Weed, Field sandbur, Longspine sandbur, Sandbur, Burgrass, Long-spined sandbur, Innocent weed
Ar: سبط طويل الأشواك
Zh: 长刺蒺藜草
Fr: Cenchrus à épines longues, Cenchrus
He: פוקה דלילה
It: Nappola
Ko: 대청가시풀
Pt-br: Capim-carrapicho
Synonyms
- Cenchrus pauciflorus var. longispinus ((Hack.) Jansen & Wacht.)
- Cenchrus echinatus f. longispinus (Hack.)
- Cenchrus echinatus var. longispinus ((Hack.) Jansen & Wacht.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- California (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Florida (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Iran (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Morocco (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- North Caucasus (introduced)
- Palestine (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sicilia (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Sep 23, 2022 by c gore (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 17, 2019 by Ricci Marco (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 25, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Christophe GIROD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 11, 2022 by RIVER STONE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Domenico Franco (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Sep 11, 2021 by Shawn Hartley (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Taken Sep 8, 2020 by Omar76 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2020 by autumn sweatt (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Taken Aug 9, 2019 by M Swadron (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 8, 2020 by Omar76 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 11, 2022 by Fabio (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Sep 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Sep 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Sep 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Sep 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Habit
Taken Sep 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Mar 25, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Christophe GIROD (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289731)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:51256-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Graminoid