Burgrass, Common sandbur
Cenchrus echinatus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It grows each year from seed. It grows 25-60 cm tall. The lower part can lie along the ground and form roots at the nodes. The leaf blades are 5-30 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. The flowering shoots are 3-10 cm long. The flowers are in a dense spike. The seeds are 1.6-3.2 mm long by 1.3-2.2 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It is often on coastal dunes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Chile, Christmas Island, Chuuk, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Europe, Fiji, FSM, India, Israel, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mediterranean, Middle East, Niue, Pacific, Paraguay, Rotuma, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, South America (country/location of origin), Tuvalu, Uruguay, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cadillo, Cadillo correntino, Flechilla, Mossman River burr, Mouku talatala, Vao tuitui

Synonyms

Cenchrus brevisetus E. Foum.; Cenchrus crinitus Mez. and others