Cenchrus ciliaris flower spike

The inflorescence of Cenchrus ciliaris is a long, straight, dense spike. Cylindrical in shape, the spike is hairy or bristly, straw-coloured to purple. The inflorescence is from 2 cm to 14 cm long and from 1 cm to 2,6 cm wide.

Groups of bristles are joined at the base below each cluster of spikelets in a small disc. The spikelets are up to 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.

Flowering happens in different seasons over the distribution range, in some areas from late winter, in others from summer to autumn (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Van Oudtshoorn, 1991; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://pza.sanbi.org).