BUFFELGRASS, BUFFEL GRASS (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Hawai‘i-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment Score: 10 (High Risk). Visit Plant Pono for more information.

Weed Fire Risk Score = 0.85 (This species is likely a high fire risk in Hawai’i); Visit Pacific Fire Exchange Weed Risk Assessments for more information

Regulatory Status: None

Prevention and Control Category: N/A

Perennial; culms 0.25–1 m long, erect to geniculate at base, rooting in the decumbent nodes; ligule 0.6–1.5 mm long. Leaf blades 9.5–40 cm by 2–7 mm. Inflorescence 4–8.5 cm long; common axis puberulous, internodes 0.75–3 mm long; stipe 0.2–1.5 by 0.2–2 mm, base obtriangular, puberulous; burs crowded, 7.5–10 by 1.7–2.5 mm, tawny to purplish; outer bristles shorter than the inner ones, antrorsely barbed, one exserted, 10–12 mm long; inner bristles free to connate only at the very base, forming a small flat disc or cup, 7–15, erect, one spine distinctly longer than the others, margins densely antrorsely pilose. Spikelets 1–3 per bur, 3.4–4.5 mm long; lower glume 0–1.5 mm long, 1-nerved; upper glume 1.9–2.25 mm long, 1-nerved; first lemma rarely epaleate, usually paleate, sterile or male, 3–3.9 mm long, 3–5-nerved; second lemma 3.4–4.5 mm long, 5-nerved; anthers 2–2.4 mm long. Caryopsis turgid, ovoid, 1.4-1.9 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter.
Native to Africa and tropical Asia, naturalized elsewhere in the Old World.

Forms continuous cover in arid habitats.
Dried shoots provide a fuel for fire
Recovers rapidly from fire
A fire-enhanced species increasing in cover following fire.
Seeds dispersed by wind, through attachment to animals and equipment and intentionally by people.

Uses

Valued for its production of palatable forage and intermittent grazing during drought periods especially in dry land areas.

Naturalized and common in dry areas and sandy soil in a wide variety of disturbed habitats, 0-120 m, on all of the main islands except Niʻihau.

Hawaii Invasive Species Council