Cymbopogon refractus

Species category

Weed

Common name

barbwire grass

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

Lanceolate

Size

  • Length 5 mm
  • Width 1 mm
  • Thickness 1 mm

Color

Brown spikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
and appendages are dark brown.

Texture

Smooth

Lemma

Papery, enclosed in glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
.

Palea

Papery, enclosed in glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
.

Other structures

Rachis segmentRachis segment:
A segment of the central axis of the inflorescence (rachis). In some species (e.g. Andropogon) separation of the sessile spikelets occurs when the rachis disarticulates at the spikelet bases leaving the segment of the rachis between spikelets attached to the lower spikelet.
, pedicelPedicel:
The stalk within an inflorescence supporting a single flower or spikelet.
often with a remnant of the sterile floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.

Identification notes

The pedicelPedicel:
The stalk within an inflorescence supporting a single flower or spikelet.
segment attached to the spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
often bears an undeveloped spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
. The first glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
of the spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
is flat and not concave. The appendages are moderately covered with long hairs.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Hawaii

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Cymbopogon refractus (R. Br.) A. Camus

 Cymbopogon refractus.  The pedicel segment attached to the spikelet often bears an undeveloped spikelet. 
Cymbopogon refractus. The pedicel segment attached to the spikelet often bears an undeveloped spikelet. 
 Cymbopogon refractus.  The spikelets' appendages are moderately covered with long hairs.
Cymbopogon refractus. The spikelets' appendages are moderately covered with long hairs.