Family Code: POACEA Genus Code: CENCH Genus CN: sandbur Genus Authority: L. Genus Summary: A genus of about 90-150 species, primarily tropical and subtropical. The circumscription of Cenchrus now includes Pennisetum (Chemisquy et al. 2010). Genus Identification: Identification notes: Spikelets of Cenchrus are subtended by an involucre of spines and/or bristles which are (in many of our species) fused into a bur. Bristles are narrow-based and terete. Spines are broad-based, and somewhat flattened (not terete) in cross-section, at least basally. Genus References: Stieber & Wipff in FNA (2003a); Wipff in FNA (2003a); Ward (2010b)=Y; Crins (1991)=Z; Chemisquy et al. (2010)=X; Verloove (2012)=V. Key based in part on FNA. Last Updated: 2019-11-29 Publish: 1