About Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone
Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone is a rhizomatous grass with matted roots and a grass-like or herbaceous growth habit. Its leaves are green, flattened or folded upward along the midrib, measuring 10–150 mm (0.39–5.91 in) long and 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) wide, with an obtuse apex at the tip of the leaf blade. This species reaches a total height between 70 and 150 millimetres (2.8 and 5.9 in), and grows in sandy soil. It favours moist locations, and after introduction as a cultivated alien it often becomes naturalized in new areas. Rooted nodes along this grass produce bunches of new grass blades. Cenchrus clandestinus is native to low-elevation tropical regions of Kenya and surrounding areas, where it grows best in warm humid conditions like wet coastal habitats. The first valid published description of this species was completed by Emilio Chiovenda in 1903, which recognizes an earlier invalid description made by C. F. Hochstetter.
