Citation: Fern., Rhodora 45:388 (1943).

Synonymy: C echinatus L. forma longispinus Hackel in Kneucker, Allg. Bot. Zeitschr. 9:169 (1903); C echinatus sensu C. Gardner, Fl. W. Aust. 1:286 (1952), non L. , Cenchrus echinatus

Common name: Innocent weed, burr grass, gentle Annie.

Description:
Annual; culm ascending from a geniculate or decumbent base, to 80 cm high, branched at the base; leaf blades flat, linear, tapering to a fine point, 3-8 mm broad; ligule a ciliate rim.

Spike cylindrical, usually 3-8 cm long, not dense; involucre sessile, 4-7 mm long (excluding the spines) and at least as broad, pubescent, straw-coloured or purplish, with a narrow pubescent turbinate base above which is an outer ring of slender bristles about half as long as the burr and frequently an inner whorl of slender bristles; spikelets c. 4 in each involucre.

Published illustration: Gardner (1952) Flora of Western Australia 1:pl. 83A-B as C. echinatus; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 73.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, SE.   All mainland States except the N.T.   Native to North America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Jan. — April.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available