Sporobolus agrostoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 35–140 cm long; 2–3 mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 20–40 cm long; 6–9 mm wide; flaccid (shiny). Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; loose, or effuse; 15–40 cm long; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.6–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; dark green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.