Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Cenchrus longispinus [Cenhrus carolinus]
Family
Poaceae
CommonName
sandbur, spiny burr grass, mat sandbur, field sandbur, innocent weed, picco, gentle Annie
Presence
maybe
Status
native, adventive
EarliestDate
1966
LatestDate
1966
Ecosystem
foothill, ruderal, urban
Geobotanical
Garitas
Counties
Saguache
Passes
WildlifePreserves
Other Localities
Comments
NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. Only one voucher documents the presence of spiny burr grass in the Watershed, from the town of Saguache, collected in 1966, with determination verified by Janet Wingate in 1997. Cenchrus longispinus is perennial, but this plant quite likely was pulled up since its burrs have spines painful to humans. The burrs attach to coats of animals and clothing of humans, especially shoelaces, if memory serves. The USA distribution covers all states, with the native populations concentrated in the Great Plains and upper mid-West. C. longispinus follows the Rio Grande drainage through New Mexico down to the Big Bend region of Texas, with one more location at the Gulf of Mexico.