Sporobolus bogotensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; without keel; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pilose; moderately hairy; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 6–7 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate; 1–2 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 2.8–3.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.8–3.2 mm long; membranous; grey; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; winged.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen 1995.

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