Cenchrus robustus R.D.Webster APNI* Description: Erect or scrambling robust perennials with long, hard runners, often rooting at the lower nodes. Culms to 2 m long or longer, scabrous and pilose below inflorescence, terete, occasionally grooved, stout, rarely branching.
Sheaths open to node, keeled, compressed, margins ciliate, occasionally sparsely pilose; ligule ciliate; blade linear to linear-lanceolate, long-tapering to a sharp point, usually folded, striate, 8.5–28.2 cm long, 1–7.3 mm wide, glabrous and smooth or scabrous on the back and margins, sparsely pilose towards the base, rather stiff.
Inflorescence spike-like, mostly erect, dense, 3–11.2 cm long, rachis slightly flexuose; bristles 48–75, outer slender, inner longer, stouter, plumose. Spikelets 1–3 per involucre, (6-)7–8.5(-9) mm long, lanceolate, acute, slightly plano-convex. Lower glume obtuse to broadly acute, nerveless; upper broadly acute to acute, (0-)1(-3)-nerved. Lower lemma staminate or neuter, acute, 3–5-nerved; palea thin or supressed, 2–3-nerved. Upper lemma bisexual, acute, 5–9-nerved; palea similar, 2(-3)-nerved.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in rainforest margins.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by Jacobs, S.W.L., Whalley, R.D.B. & Wheeler, D.J.B. Taxon concept: Grasses of New South Wales, Fourth Edition (2008).
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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